Author(s): Justo Miranda
During the Second World War, Germany and Japan developed several types of anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles; however, the Allies were technologically superior in electronic warfare by mid-1944 to interfere with the guidance systems of first generation missile weapons. Consequently, the Japanese were believed to have found the tactic to stop US invasion fleets with terminal dive bombing and the Germans adapted their Sturmjäger hunting squadrons with ramming tactics learnt from the Russians.
Once the radio frequency war was lost, Axis scientists tried to develop other control techniques, but the acoustic, electrostatic and infrared sensors, together with television guidance systems, were not ready on time and broken cables made the wire-guided bombs frequently fail.
Both countries began to design ramming fighters and suicide bombers when the futile devastation of their cities by Allied bombers ensured that there would not be a lack of volunteer pilots. A fascinating book for the military historian, modeller and those interested in aviation, Axis Suicide Squads: German and Japanese Secret Projects of the Second World War is gloriously illustrated and covers all known designs of Axis suicide and panic fighters.
BOOK ISBN | 9781781555651 |
FORMAT | 248 x 172 mm |
BINDING | Hardback |
PAGES | 288 pages |
PUBLICATION DATE | 15 February 2017 |
TERRITORY | World |
ILLUSTRATIONS | 125 back-and-white scale drawings |