Osprey Duel Series 20
Author: John Guttman
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84603-471-8
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 80
While some of the subjects in Osprey's Duel series seem a bit imbalanced, when they cover WWI subjects they come out with some excellent pairings. This latest title pits the SE 5a against the Albatros D.V over the Western Front, 1917-1918. These two aircraft were flown by a great number of pilots, and many aces gained their status in these types. This book provides a detailed examination of each aircraft, and its performance over the trenches of Western Europe.
The book begins, like all Duel titles, with a brief chronology. This really helps those who aren't intimately familiar with the First World War to put things in context. With that quick overview out of the way, the book then covers the design and development. Both the SE 5a and the Albatros D.V were an improvement over existing designs (the SE 5 and the Albatros D.III, respectively), so some additional background is necessary and included. Also covered are the flying characteristics and technical specifications.
Of course, this book is a Duel book, so there has to be combat between the two, and the rest of the book covers the operational record of the two aircraft. This includes the overall strategic situation as well as the combat operations between the two types. This is punctuated with some excellent illustrations and period photographs, making for both a fun and informative read.
For those that have not seen the Osprey Duel series, these make for a great introduction to the specific genre each title covers. Reading this particular title will undoubtedly inspire more research and reading of WWI aerial combat. My thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review copy.