Beaufighter vs German Flak Ships

An illustrated study of RAF Coastal Command's deployment of the Beaufighter against German supply lines in 1941 and the long-running 'arms race' with Kriegsmarine Flak ships that followed.

Crucial German shipping lines faced a new threat in 1941 when RAF Coastal Command debuted the iconic long-range Beaufighter. The aircraft and its subsequent Mk VIC and Mk X versions gave the Allies a tough, relatively fast and very hard-hitting platform for air attack on German convoys, and so it became essential for the Kriegsmarine to fit ever-heavier anti-aircraft batteries to its escort vessels, and even to develop specialist Flak vessels.

In this compelling study, naval aviation historian Matthew Willis chronicles the little-explored arms race that saw RAF Coastal Command and the Kriegsmarine engaged in a fierce battle of one-upmanship until war's end. New artwork, rare archive photography and contemporary records of Beaufighter operations add depth to fascinating historical accounts, including the actions of the famous North Coates Strike Wing against shipping in the North Sea and the exploits of Beaufighter units tasked with severing Rommel's all-important supply lines.

About the Author

Matthew Willis is a writer and editor, specialising in naval and aviation history. His first full-length non-fiction work was on the Blackburn Skua and Roc. Since then, he has explored lesser-known areas of aviation history, particularly with regard to naval history. He focuses on original research and bringing out the voices of those who were there at the time. He is a frequent contributor to the historic aviation media, with features published in journals such as Aeroplane, Flight Path, The Aviation Historian and Flypast. He runs the website Naval Air History.

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Design and Development
• Technical Specifications
• The Strategic Situation
• The Combatants
• Combat
• Statistics and Analysis
• Aftermath
• Further Reading
• Index