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Stringbag: The Fairey Swordfish at War
This is a narrative account of the operations of the Fairey Swordfish throughout World War Two. The most famous of these was the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto, crippling three battleships and damaging several other ships as well as the seaplane base and an oil storage depot. The Swordfish played a prominent part in the Battle of Matapan and in the sinking of the Bismarck. Less happily, Swordfish were used in the unsuccessful and ill-prepared raid on the Germans at Petsamo and in the abortive attack on the battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during the Channel Dash in 1942.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 9, 2019
A good, well researched book about the Fairey Swordfish bi-plane's service during World War 2 with great firsthand accounts of flying it into combat. The Swordfish was an amazing bi-plane that served in many theatres of the War from start to finish and flew well into the jet-age. Well worth the read!!
July 1, 2026
If you love aviation history or the fascinating underdog stories of World War II, Stringbag: The Fairey Swordfish at War is an absolute must-read.
Going into this book, I knew nothing of the Fairey Swordfish, i knew it was a ww2 biplane and that was about it.
The author does a masterful job of balancing the technical realities of the aircraft with firsthand accounts, personal diaries, and logbook entries from the crews who manned them. You get a real sense of the freezing, open-cockpit conditions over the Atlantic, the sheer terror of night torpedo runs, and the immense tactical skill required to outmaneuver the enemy.
What I appreciated most was how the book highlights the versatility of the Swordfish. It wasn't just a torpedo bomber; it was an exceptional anti-submarine weapon, a convoy protector, and a radar pioneer.
It is incredibly well paced, meticulously researched, and serves as a phenomenal tribute to the immense bravery of the Royal Navy crews.
if you want to find more about this book check my review on Youtube: https://youtu.be/h1WtYm8ZVVk
Going into this book, I knew nothing of the Fairey Swordfish, i knew it was a ww2 biplane and that was about it.
The author does a masterful job of balancing the technical realities of the aircraft with firsthand accounts, personal diaries, and logbook entries from the crews who manned them. You get a real sense of the freezing, open-cockpit conditions over the Atlantic, the sheer terror of night torpedo runs, and the immense tactical skill required to outmaneuver the enemy.
What I appreciated most was how the book highlights the versatility of the Swordfish. It wasn't just a torpedo bomber; it was an exceptional anti-submarine weapon, a convoy protector, and a radar pioneer.
It is incredibly well paced, meticulously researched, and serves as a phenomenal tribute to the immense bravery of the Royal Navy crews.
if you want to find more about this book check my review on Youtube: https://youtu.be/h1WtYm8ZVVk
October 25, 2016
The nitty gritty of the Swordfish in service
A well researched history , almost from the aircrews point of view. The wealth of detail in the squadron appendix was particularly welcome.
A well researched history , almost from the aircrews point of view. The wealth of detail in the squadron appendix was particularly welcome.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews