Arctic Convoys 1942: The Luftwaffe cuts Russia's lifeline Spiral-Bound | September 13, 2022

The Air Campaign series offers a colourful and in-depth picture of some of the most iconic and key actions of aviation warfare. Using detailed bird’s eye view maps, diagrams and action-packed illustrations of aerial battles, the series brings to life the most important air campaigns of all time. In this new study, marine and naval expert, Mark Lardas, explores the initial success of Luftwaffe attacks against Allied Artic Convoys during 1942 and demonstrates how the combined presence of German warships, U-boats and bombers was a far more effective attack strategy than the use of separate forces. This was a gruelling, dramatic, and high-stakes air campaign, fought in often appalling conditions with a Luftwaffe armed with torpedoes as well as bombs. German reinforced naval and air forces stationed in Norway found new opportunities to attack vital Allied Convoys, with Luftwaffe bombers sinking half of Convoy PQ-15 in May 1942 and virtually obliterating Convoy PQ-17 in July 1942 with the loss of 24 of its 38 merchant ships. The climax came in September 1942 when 30 percent of Convoy PQ 18 was sunk with over three-quarters of its vessels lost due to air attack.
However, the Luftwaffe’s victory was short-lived. In November, it was redeployed south to cover the Allied landings in North Africa and, in a shrewd tactical move, the Allies also suspended their Arctic convoy sailings until December, relying on the long Arctic nights to shield convoys from attack.
The story of the Arctic Convoys is usually told as a naval subject but this book offers a new take, arguing not only that the Luftwaffe was the crucial factor during 1942, but that this was the Luftwaffe’s last strategic victory of World War II.