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The Junkers Ju 87 B Stuka dive-bomber and the aircraft carrier represent two key combat innovations of World War II. Rich with photographs and personal accounts, this new volume focuses on the air-sea action during the British evacuation operations in Norway in May 1940 and German air attacks in the Mediterranean in 1941-1942.Ju 87 dive-bombers, originally developed for pin-pointing bombing missions against land targets and Allied naval vessels were deployed by both the Luftwaffe and the
Regia Aeronautica against the Allied forces. Included in such a target were perhaps the greatest prize of all for a Stuka pilot: a British aircraft carrier.
This superbly illustrated book looks at the duel between the Ju 87 Stuka and the aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy. Despite their gun protection ('pompoms') and their squadrons of fighters, these immense and mighty vessels proved irresistible targets to determined and experienced Stuka aces as they endeavored to stop British naval intervention in the campaigns in Norway, Malta and Crete. By 1941, the Ju 87 had become known by the British as a fearsome aircraft following its operations in France, specifically at Dunkirk, as well as in the Balkans. For the Luftwaffe, it was an aircraft in which they still had great confidence despite its mauling in the Battle of Britain during the summer of 1940. This book examines the key attributes and shortcomings of both aircraft and carrier by analyzing various compelling episodes including the dramatic attacks on
Ark Royal by
Stukageschwader (St.G) 1 off Norway in April 1940, the strikes by the Luftwaffe's St.G 1, St.G 2 and the
Regia Aeronautica's 237°
Squadriglia against
Illustrious in Malta harbor. Aside from outstanding photography and artwork, this volume also include numerous personal accounts from Stuka crews, the pilots of carrier-borne fighters opposing them and the sailors embarked in the various carriers that came under attack.
List of contents
Introduction
Chronology
Design and Development
Technical Specifications
The Strategic Situation
The Combatants
Combat
Statistics and Analysis
Aftermath
Further Reading
Index
About the author
Robert Forsyth
Summary
Rich with photographs and personal accounts, this volume focuses on the air-sea action during the British evacuation operations in Norway in May 1940 and German air attacks in the Mediterranean in 1941-1942.
Foreword
The Junkers Ju 87 B Stuka dive-bomber and the aircraft carrier represent two key combat innovations of World War II. Rich with photographs and personal accounts, this new volume focuses on the air-sea action during the British evacuation operations in Norway in May 1940 and German air attacks in the Mediterranean in 1941-1942.
Additional text
The book is a significant contribution to the knowledge of how the Mediterranean campaign was affected by these two weapon systems. Well-produced (the font size could have been bigger) and fully illustrated with coloured drawings and evocative black and white photographs, it was an enjoyable and informative read.
