British Naval Weapons of World War Two: The John Lambert Collection, Volume II: Escort and Minesweeper Weapons Hardcover – August 1, 2019

John Lambert is a name that needs no introduction for serious naval enthusiasts. Having illustrated, among others, two "Anatomy of the Ship" books, two ShipCraft specials, and both "Allied Coastal Forces" volumes, he proved to be one of the finest naval draftsmen in recent memory. He managed a massive output (on average, a sheet every two weeks for 40 years), and Seaforth acquired the publication rights to his drawings after his death in 2016.The arrangement of this book is very similar to its predecessor. After a fairly substantial introduction by Norman Friedman, we're presented with 18 sheets of single-page ship plans, ranging from Black Swan-class sloops down to minesweepers and anti-submarine trawlers. The rest consists of 84 double-page spreads, each containing a complete sheet of drawings digitally re-arranged so that nothing (except for the occasional gun barrel) falls into the binding. While Volume 1 was more rigidly segregated (guns, torpedo mounts, etc.) Volume 2 covers a much broader range of subjects. Along with guns, anti-submarine weapons, and fire control devices, there are sheets focusing on depth charge racks, rails, and davits, radar aerials, signaling projectors, minesweeping winches and windlasses, rocket launchers, and even the notoriously useless Holman projector. There are also a few sheets devoted to weapons that only appeared on British capital ships, such as the octuple two-pounder and Renown and Repulse's triple-barreled four-inch guns.Although the 100 or so sheets included here present only a small fraction of John Lambert's output, the overall effect can be overwhelming at times. The level of detail in the plans, combined with their somewhat manic presentation (notes, specifications, and callout lists are scattered about like they've been fired from a shotgun), is probably going to be too much for some folks. But if you're a hardcore detail fanatic, this book is overflowing with it. A quick browse reveals close-up views of the Holman Projector's breech and firing mechanisms, a cutaway view of an Oerlikon magazine, dimensioned drawings of the resetting lever and operating shaft on a Mk 1 depth charge trap, a perspective view of a Squid mortar's loading trolley, and the layout of the electric cables and circuits of a 4.7-inch HA Mk XII gun mounting.My criticisms are similar to those I had with the first volume. The plans are somewhat better reproduced (no smudging or fading), but as they're presented at roughly half the size of the originals, you'll still need a good magnifying glass. A few sheets which were never truly finished due to Mr. Lambert's failing health are included, perhaps in memoriam, but I'm not sure they really belong. Finally, I noticed at least two glaring errors in Norman Friedman's introduction; one, that the Mk 24 torpedo used active homing, and the second, that the Germans never realized that ASDIC was an active sonar (why would they think this?). Considering Friedman's reputation, and how much I've enjoyed reading his books, I'm not sure how these slipped through. Regardless of any imperfections, the level of detail in this collection is frequently stunning, and I recommend it to anyone seriously interested in the subject.(If anyone from Seaforth is listening, how about a definitive edition of the Submarine Alliance "Anatomy of the Ship," with larger drawings, photographs, and detailed commentary?)

This is an excellent reference book on the British Naval Minesweepers of World War Two. The drawings are highly detailed plans of much of the deck equipment fitted. Not only main guns, smaller guns but also a lot of the winches, depth charge storage and even searchlights. For anybody wanting to super detail a model, this book is a must. I was pleased to see information on the US lend lease ships as well. Looking forward to future publications from the same publisher.

An indispensable reference for any modeller of Royal Navy escort ships of World War 2.

Great detail drawings of multiple weapons

A companion volume to the author's book on Destroyer Weapons, again the same format.A good well-written text supported by a good selection of photographs and in addition to this the excellent line drawings of the late John Lambert.Why not just buy a book on Escort and minesweepers.....well, for one thing, this degree of detail would not be met and this book is about the weapons systems which these ships were equipped with.The book is large format information is clearly laid out and to be honest, it is very hard to fault IMO a good buy, the amount of detail and attention to detail is what makes this book and its companion work.

Top notch book