From Seaforth Publishing, a division of Pen and Sword, comes a new book I found particularly interesting. Many of us are familiar with the stories of the German Navy capital ships, the U-boats and the E-boats in WW2, yet this one covers to stories of less well known craft, the minesweepers, submarine hunters, minelayers, barrage breakers, landing craft, freighters, trawlers and the riverine craft that were used to patrol the Danube. Maybe not as glamorous as the likes of the U-boats, Bismark or Tirpitz etc but still a vital part of their war effort and a story about which little has been done before... There is lots in here to enjoy, and certainly for me, to learn. Read the complete review [link=http://www.militarymodelscene.com/hitlers-forgotten-flotillas]here.[/link]
Military Model Scene, Robin Buckland

'...an unforgettable portrait of a bargeman's life.' '[This book] stands as a wonderful tribute to a lost way of life.'
York Press

This book traces the development of French battleships from 1890 to 1922, and also covers the extensive modifications made to the survivors during the interwar period. It is liberally illustrated throughout with line drawings and labelled schematics, plus photographs from the extensive Caresse collection, many of which are previously unpublished.
IPMS Great War SIG

A well produced and substantial collection which is an invaluable reference work.
Mariners Mirror

Overall, this is a rich and thoughtful book which is very much worth a read: both as a touching attempt by one man to get to know his father better, and as a welcome addition to the chronicles of Merchant Navy involvement in the war.
Nautilus May 2017