Warriors and wizards : the development and defeat of radio-controlled glide bombs of the Third Reich / Martin J. Bollinger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bollinger, Martin J., 1958-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Guided bombs--History--20th century.

Guided bombs.

World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, German.

World War, 1939-1945.

Germany. Luftwaffe--History.

Germany.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (316 p.)

Place of Publication:

Annapolis, Md. : Naval Institute Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In August 1943 the Luftwaffe began using radio-controlled anti-ship glide bombs, and within weeks they had sunk one battleship, crippled another, wrecked two cruisers, and destroyed numerous merchant ships. Yet a year later the Germans abandoned their use, defeated in part by electronic systems to jam the radio links that guided the bombs. Drawing on a wealth of new sources, Martin Bollinger examines what happened from both a historical and technological perspective and lays out a mission-by-mission analysis of effectiveness.

Contents:

CONTENTS; Tables and Illustrations; Acknowledgments; Introduction ""Wellsian Weapons from Mars""; ONE Egret Explodes; TWO Development of German Glide Bombs; THREE Death of a Battleship and Crisis at Salerno; FOUR Early Warnings from Agents and Analysts; FIVE False Hope: Initial Countermeasures Development; SIX IL/KG 100's Struggles in the Mediterranean; SEVEN Transition Time: KG 40 and the He 177; Eight Intelligence Work Leads to Improved Electronic Defenses; NINE Stalemate at Anzio and on the Convoy Routes; TEN Lessons Learned, Moves, and Countermoves

ELEVEN Last Gasps: The Invasions of France TWELVE How Effective Were the Glide Bombs and Electronic Countermeasures?; Epilogue; Appendix: Ships Sunk or Damaged with Glide Bombs; Notes; Selected Bibliography; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-283-04958-9

9786613049582

1-61251-002-7

OCLC:

707067890