Fortress 72: German V-Weapon Sites 1943-45 (Fortress) [Paperback]

An Osprey Fortress series volume on German V-Weapon sites may not seem that gripping to many readers, who prefer to read about the actual V-1 and V-2 rockets, but this volume offers a great deal. As usual, you cannot pick up a volume written by Steven J Zaloga without reading something new and insightful that you haven't seen before in other books, so this volume starts with that advantage. Further, this volume is not just about "sites," but about the cat-and-mouse game between the Germans to establish their V-weapon launching sites and the Allied efforts to detect and destroy them. Hitler was intent upon using the V-weapons (Revenge weapons) to retaliate against Allied civilians, which became more vital to him as Germany's fortunes on the battlefield waned. Nor is this merely a nostalgic look at obsolete weapons; as Zaloga makes clear, the whole issue of countering fixed and mobile missiles was revisited again during the "Great Scud Hunt" during Desert Storm in 1991. In an era when a number of countries are deploying mobile tactical missiles, this subject remains a vital national security concern and Steven Zaloga's volume is a perfect starting point to understanding the dynamics of this type of weapons system from both sides of the hill.

The volume begins with an overview of the German V-Weapons programs (the V-1 and V-2 were covered in earlier New Vanguard titles by Zaloga), which includes the HDP pump gun and the Rheinbote rocket, as well as the V-1 and V-2. Initially, the German preference was to build large, well-protected fixed launching sites in France near the Channel Coast. However, these sites were relatively easy for the Allies to detect and Zaloga details the devastating RAF attacks against these sites with Tallboy bombs. Zaloga also makes the interesting point that the shortage of liquid oxygen for the missiles severely limited Germany's V-weapons launch rates even without any Allied interference. After the initial fixed sites were disrupted by Allied bombing, the Germans tried a new pattern of fixed sites that were less conspicuous and better protected, but most of these were bombed as well. As the author notes, the Germans had to make the choice between using large, fixed sites that could sustain a fairly respectable launch rate or opt for mobile launch sites that offered better survivability but poor launch rates. Essentially, the effectiveness of the Allied bombing effort drove the Germans to embrace the mobile basing concept. Mobile V-weapon sites proved to be far more difficult to detect but the initial missile barrages against London were much smaller than intended, due to the limitations of this method. Eventually, the Germans also introduced air-launched V-1s from bombers, but the author notes that this delivery method afforded a 50-mile CEP and a very high failure rate. Ultimately, the author says the V-weapons campaign was a massive flop - costing Germany three times as much as the Manhattan Project - in no small measure due to the ineffective launching methods forced upon the Germans by Allied counter-responses.

The photos in this volume are terrific, particularly color photos of the restored V-1s on launch ramps in the UK and Belgium. The color plates are also superb, showing all the various types of heavy launch sites, V-1s on ramps, a V-2 mobile launch site (really terrific) and the HDP gun site. The author also provides a very useful bibliography. One aspect of the volume that I particularly enjoyed was the space devoted to the HDP gun and how it was used to bombard Luxemburg City - this was one V-weapon that you don't hear about much but the author provides several great photos of it. He also notes that the Iraqi attempt to build a `supergun' was based upon the HDP concept and just as much a failure. This is a book not only to read and enjoy now, but to keep on the shelf of military professionals as a reference for the next time that some lunatic threatens to shower missiles upon a civilian population.

One of the new Osprey books is German V-Weapon Sites 1943-45 by Steven J. Zaloga. He examines the many sites and complexes constructed by the Germans to hide, protect, and then launch these innovative weapons. Zaloga gives the reader a cursory understanding of the technology behind these missiles and their bases, the mission of the V-weapons, and the notables behind their development.

The meat of the book, however, and its most interesting content is the photographs of surviving German missile bases throughout Europe, as well as photos and accounts of when they were in operation. I travel rather extensively to Europe on business, but did not realize so many missile launch sites were still relatively intact. Few are open for public viewing, however. This fascinating book (Volume 22 of the Fortress series) is replete with scores of color photographs and illustrations, as well as vintage WWII black-and-white shots.

Osprey volumes excel in two important areas. First, if you are new to a subject and need a broad overview before proceeding to more detailed studies usually found in the bibliography. Second, if you only have a basic interest in the subject because it is related to another subject of interest.

It was the second that was the reason I purchased this book. I am very interested in the V-1 and the V-2 but realize that an understanding of the basing of these weapons was necessary to get a full picture. Zaloga's volume fulfills this requirement perfectly. The text, the maps, the drawings, and the photographs were all first rate.

I have only one nit to pick with the book. Zaloga claims at several points that the V-1's pulse jet could not operate from a standing start. Other books contradict this assertion notably Kay's exhaustive "German Jet Engine and Gas Turbine Development 1930-1945" which provides sea level static thrust figures for the Argus pulse jet.

In short, highly recommended.