description
World War II the details of Soviet ships, their activities and fates remain an enigma to the West. In wartime such information was classified and after a brief period of glasnost the Russian state has again restricted access to historical archives. Therefore, the value - and originality - of this work is difficult to exaggerate. This second part of the three-volume series includes all the remaining fighting vessels not already covered in Volume I. Beginning with the Uragan class - rated as escort ships and the first seagoing warships designed by the Soviet Union - the book then moves on to submarine hunters, both large and small, patrol craft, minelayers and minesweepers, and unusual types like floating artillery batteries and anti-aircraft defense ships, concluding with landing ships and craft. Many of these vessels have hitherto been poorly documented but given the nature of the land-centered Soviet war against Germany their contribution should not be underestimated. The details of their service and, not least, the circumstances of their loss, constitute a major addition to Western understanding of the Soviet Navy's war effort. This volume covers: Escort ships Large submarine hunters Small submarine hunters Patrol boats Floating artillery batteries AA defence ships Minelayers Netlayers Minesweepers Minesweeping boats Landing vessels and craft