German Naval Camouflage - Volume 1

GERMAN NAVAL CAMOUFLAGE - VOLUME 1: 1939-1941

For half a century German warship camouflage has been something of a mystery for warship enthusiasts and modelmakers. The widespread destruction of naval archives at the end of the war left little documentation, while the ad hoc application of 'unofficial' schemes in theatres like Norway led to many variegated and frequently altered patterns. This book, therefore, is based on close scrutiny of all available photos, including many only recently discovered, collated with the first-hand testimony of Kriegsmarine survivors. After decades of study, the authors are the world's leading experts, and their work challenges many accepted views, while greatly expanding the general understanding of the subject.

The fruits of their labours are presented in the form of exquisite colour illustrations of every scheme and variation for which evidence is available. For major ships these are sometimes only months apart, giving as complete a representation of their camouflage history as possible. There are no speculative views – if, for example, only the starboard side is known, there is no attempt to 'reconstruct' a port side – so all information is reliable.

This volume covers destroyers and all larger ships during the early war years, with a second part devoted to 1942-45 planned for completion in 2013. For warship enthusiasts its publication will be a major event, and it is certain to become the standard reference.

Authors: John Asmussen & Eric Leon

Publisher: Seaforth Publishing (2016 - 1st edition: 2012)

Description: 192 pages, Hardback, 218 X 262 mm.

Sample pages

Condition: NEW COPY.

Shipping weight: 1.10 Kgr.

Reviews: 

This fascinating book will be a great help to anybody modelling a German warship of destroyer size or greater. All together, a very useful book which makes interesting reading even if you are not building a German warship at the time.

(International Plastics Modellers Society)

The centrepiece is a series of outstanding, computer-generated, colored line drawings. These show not only the shipsʼ color schemes but their evolving configurations… Other interesting features of the drawings are the detailed views of Kriegsmarine heraldry – not only the flags painted on the decks, but coats of arms on the bows and, in some cases, the sides on turrets… There is also a generous selection of photographs, many of which were new to this reviewer… This fine book undoubtedly will inspire the building of some equally beautiful, and accurate, Kriegsmarine models.

(Nautical Research Journal).