Description
Book SynopsisThe history of Nazi Germany''s attempt to build a modern aircraft carrier, and the other aviation ships that Germany and Italy designed or operated.
The quest for a modern aircraft carrier was the ultimate symbol of the Axis powers'' challenge to Allied naval might, but fully-fledged carriers proved either too difficult, expensive, or politically unpopular for either to make operational. After the Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935, Hitler publicly stated his intention to build an aircraft carrier, the Graf Zeppelin, which was launched in 1938. A year later, the ambitious fleet-expansion Z-Plan, was unveiled with two additional aircraft carriers earmarked for production. However, by the beginning of World War II, Graf Zeppelin was not yet completed and work was halted. Further aircraft carrier designs and conversion projects such as the ocean liner Europa and heavy cruiser Seydlitz were considered but, in January 1943, all construct
Trade Review
Informative text coupled with archive images and some first class artwork by illustrator Paul Wright. -- Robin Buckland * Military Model Scene *
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION GERMANY German seaplane carriers, 1914-1918 German aircraft carrier project SMS Ausonia, 1918 Flush-deck aircraft carriers and Plan Z Graf Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers German carrier aircraft Messerschmitt Bf 109T “Toni” Junkers Ju 87C and E “Trägerstukas” Messerschmitt Me 155 Wartime auxiliary carrier conversion projects ITALY Experimentation in the First World War Interwar projects Aquila Sparviero CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY
