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'British Naval Weapons of WW2 - Vol 2 Escort and Minesweeper weapons


robgizlu

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Seaforth have published 2 new volumes featuring the work and line-drawn plans of John Lambert.  Vol 1 deals with "Destroyer Weapons" and Vol 2 which I'll mini-review here deals with "Escort and Minesweeper Weapons".

 

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Apparently Seaforth have acquired Mr Lambert's drawings and plan to release a "series of albums on selected themes,reproducing complete sheets at a large page size, with an expert commentary and captioning".  Splendid news I feel :D

My copy cost £24 which for a quality hardbound volume, I'm more than happy with.

It begins with a short obituary for Hugh John Lambert and then extends into a 45 page textual introduction and commentary by Norman Friedman, "arguably America's most prominent naval analyst".  Line drawing plans of Minesweepers, Sloops, Corvettes and Trawlers follow.  And then separate chapters on specific weapons with 9 chapters on Equipment, ending with 8 chapters of miscellaneous weapons, mostly for larger ships.  

There is replication of diagrams from his previous volumes which include those on Fairmile D "Dog" boats, Flower Class Corvettes and his Classic volumes on Vosper MTBs and Fairmile Motor launches.  I have them all but welcome the new entries, many previously unknown to me.  The detail is delicious, there are for instance over 30 pages devoted to Depth charges and attendant equipment such as racks and throwers.  For those of you who followed my Fairmile B thread and my search for Taut wire measuring gear , there is ....you guessed it, line drawn plans for the large vessel variety - though still not for that used ON the Fairmile B!

It's a lovely book and I thoroughly commend it.  Iv'e fallen in love with Mr Lambert's plans and drawings and am delighted they'll be available for a new generation.

I look forward to seeing what else Seaforth will publish

Rob

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3 hours ago, robgizlu said:

Apparently Seaforth have acquired Mr Lambert's drawings and plan to release a "series of albums on selected themes,reproducing complete sheets at a large page size, with an expert commentary and captioning". 

 

Now that is great news 

Thanks for sharing with us Rob

 

Kev

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I have volume I and a ton of Lambert drawings; they are simply must-have books for any RN ship modeler. Much of my modeling depends on Mr Lambert's work plus the other references he would sneak into an order.

Edited by foeth
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Thanks for the heads up Rob, just bought it!  I've got Campbell's Naval Weapons of WW2, all nations which has a lot of Lambert's drawings, but this looks more specialised

 

You can't have too many books....

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  • 1 month later...

My volume arrived yesterday. The subtitle is a bit misleading as this volume also contains drawings of e.g., octuple pompoms, 4.5" between-deck guns  up-launchers and so on (admittedly, in the appendix). No matter, this is a great volume to have and worth the price for the appendix alone!

 

I feverishly hope there will be a volume III containing and the ship boats, barges, whalers, launches, dinghy's, cutters, rafts, floats and other smaller craft.

 

Edit: third volume planned for a July 2020 release...

Edited by foeth
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No confirmation if the boats & launches will be included though, but it did spark a reaction from the publisher when I asked about it. I do hope so; I have many drawings by Lambert but not all. We'll see.

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