The Blackburn Skua was the first monoplane to be designed and built for the Royal Navy in the 1930s. As a result of continued debate; it became a compromise between the Navy’s desire for a carrier-based dive-bomber and RAF’s preference for a fighter. Despite being the first to shoot down a Luftwaffe aircraft in World War II; early operations in Norway found the type woefully inadequate as a fighter.As a dive-bomber; the Royal Navy put the design to good use from the outset of WWII. It was involved with the hunt for the Graff Spee; sunk the major warship Koln; suffered with great loss in an attack on the Scharnhorst; helped to keep the German advance at bay during the Dunkirk evacuation and attacked the French rogue battleship Richelieu in the Mediterranean.This book relates how the final design was created; how the dive-bombing technique was developed and perfected by naval pilots and traces the wartime operational career of the type with many first-hand accounts.
#864188 in Books 2004-07-25 2004-07-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.69 x 2.29 x 7.25l; .35 #File Name: 184176708548 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very niceBy Evan CourtneyIvanov and Jowett's book presents a brief overview of the background; timeline and new technologies of the Russo-Japaneese war; but the real reason to buy it is for the photographs and Karachtchouk's illustrations. His illustrations are beautifully detailed and throughly captioned at the end of the book. If your looking for a source from which to model accurate period figures this is your resource.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Review of a Reference Book on the War that Caused the 1905 Russian RevolutionBy Brian Wayne WellsThis book is a great reference book on the 1904 War that set in motion the Russian Revolution of 1905. This particular book shows how the armies of the Japanese and Russian actually looked.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Osprey Publishing At Its BestBy Marco Antonio AbarcaWith Osprey's Men-at-Arms series; it is always hit or miss. At times; the series books can be really painful to read. The series has a penchant for attracting well intentioned authors who will drone on concerning the most obscure uniform details. Other times; the uniform plates look almost cartoonish in their execution. It seems as though there is no quality control at Osprey Publishing.So it was with great pleasure and not a little bit of surprise that I read; "The Russo-Japanes War 1904-05". The book starts with a nice chronology of the war and then passes on to the technological innovations that took place in the first major war of the Twentieth Century. The book finishes with a well written overview of the uniforms and equipment of the Russian and Japanese armies. Fortunately; the ilustrations of Andrei Keachtchouk are first rate and complement the text. This book is a fine example of what all Osprey Men-at-Arms books should aspire to achieve. Highly recommended.
