This study of the Kriegsmarine’s Sicherungsstreitkräfte; their security forces; fills a gap in the study of the German navy in World War II. This book describes the wide array of vessels including patrol boats; minesweepers; submarine hunters; barrage breakers; landing craft; minelayers; and even the riverine flotilla that patrolled the Danube as it snaked towards the Black Sea. These vessels may not have provided the glamour associated with capital ships and U-boats; but they were crucial to the survival of the Kriegsmarine at every stage of hostilities.As naval construction was unable to keep pace with the likely demand for security vessels; Grossadmiral Erich Raeder turned to the conversion of merchant vessels. For example; trawlers were requisitioned as patrol boats (Vorpostenboote) and minesweepers (Minensucher); while freighters; designated Sperrbrecher; were filled with buoyant materials and sent to clear minefields. Submarine hunters (U-Boot Jäger) were requisitioned fishing vessels. More than 120 flotillas operated in wildly different conditions; from the Arctic to the Mediterranean; and eighty-one men were to be awarded the Knight’s Cross; some were still operating after the cessation of hostilities clearing German minefields. Paterson documents organizational changes; describes the vessels; and recounts individual actions of ships at sea. Extensive appendices are included.
#660199 in Books Osprey Publishing 2016-08-23 2016-08-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 249.43 x 8.26 x 7.27l; .55 #File Name: 147281267096 pages9781472812674
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A longtime fan of this series One of the best ones in the Osprey seriesBy BizjetfixerA longtime fan of this seriesOne of the best ones in the Osprey series; of a subject that hasn't received much coverage. A basic operational history; including combat successes and losses. Shows that making 10 hour flights over the ocean was hazardous; even before the risks from opposing fighters and AAA became concerns. Numerous photographs; some of which are not of the highest quality; but most of which do not appear to have been published before (at least in English). I'd rather see a poor photo than none at all.Makes me hope for a more comprehensive treatment of the subject by someone in the future.Suggestions for improvement?Some closeups of the various armamant; search radar and crew position installations would have been nice for us modelers.An appendix giving production numbers of the various models; including werke numbers.and dates of production.Even better would be an appendix listing werke number; constructors number; model (as manufactured); delivery date; assignments; and ultimate fate (if known). With only 276 airframes built; a book of this size should be able to accomioate it;1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The CondorBy PICKLESA thorough history about Germanys use of this plane during WW2.12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Shadow of the Condor...By HMS WarspiteThe Luftwaffe's maritime reconnaissance and anti-shipping aircraft; the Fw 200 Condor; began life as a German airliner in the late 1930's. Germany realized a need for a long range aircraft as soon as the Second World War began. The Condor was quickly militarized and became an object of dread on the North Atlantic and Arctic convoys (see "HMS Ulysses" for a semi-fictional example). This is the story of that aircraft."Fw 200 Condor Units of World War 2" is an Osprey Combat Aircraft Series book; authored by Chris Goss; with illustrations by Chris Davey. The narrative begins with the conversion of the FW 200 into a military aircraft; filling an obvious gap in the German aircraft inventory. The Condor was quickly thrown into action in 1941 against the Atlantic convoys; achieving some remarkable early successes. However; as the author notes; the Condor had significant serviceability issues; and was vulnerable to enemy fire; whether from convoys or defending aircraft. These defects would follow the aircraft through its various uses in reconnaissance; bombing and transport.Much of the narrative is taken from after action reports from both Axis and Allied sources. These reports provide a significant level of detail; and a heart-breaking rendition of losses of aircraft and aircrew; who were up against increasing odds as the war went on. The concluding analysis is almost an afterthought. The text includes lots of wartime photographs and some very nicely done color plates of the Condor variants. Recommended to students of the air war in the Second World War.
