Warriors and Wizards: the Development and Defeat of Radio-Controlled Glide Bombs of the Third Reich

In August 1943 the Luftwaffe began using radio-controlled anti-ship glide bombs, and within weeks they had sunk one battleship, crippled another, wrecked two cruisers, and destroyed numerous merchant ships. Yet a year later the Germans abandoned their use, defeated in part by electronic systems to jam the radio links that guided the bombs. Drawing on a wealth of new sources, Martin Bollinger examines what happened from both a historical and technological perspective and lays out a mission-by-mission analysis of effectiveness. Based on interviews with participants, intelligence documents, and a.;Tables and Illustrations; Acknowledgments; Introduction: "Wellsian Weapons from Mars"; Chapter 1. Egret Explodes; Chapter 2. Development of German Glide Bombs; Chapter 3. Death of a Battleship and Crisis at Salerno; Chapter 4. Early Warnings from Agents and Analysts; Chapter 5. False Hope: Initial Countermeasures Development; Chapter 6. II./KG 100's Struggles in the Mediterranean; Chapter 7. Transition Time:KG 40 and the He 177; Chapter 8. Intelligence Work Leads to Improved Electronic Defenses; Chapter 9. Stalemate at Anzio andon the Convoy Routes.