Nimrod's Genesis: RAF Maritime Patrol Projects and Weapons Since 1945

Great book. This book documents pretty much all post war ASW aircraft, with an emphasis on paper proposals. Well written and well documented.

Nimrod's Genesis: RAF Maritime Patrol Projects and Weapons since 1945by Chris GibsonHikoki Publications$49.95This book is a specimen of an aviation genre upon which the Brits seem to have a stranglehold: aircraft that never were. The books are enticing because their hallmarks—quality printing, excellent photographic reproduction, integrated design, and numerous line drawings—are focused on capturing the reader's and purchaser's attention. They do this very well. That they are printed in China is more a statement of the cost of similar endeavors in the West than it is of the derived quality in the East.Unlike historical fiction for things that never were, this category of aviation literature has a very valid substrate: the furtherance of the aeronautical art. Aviation blind alleys can actually lead to hardware. Hence aircraft vaporware is worthy of study and reportage.The issue with such books is how far to push the defining boundaries. Nimrod's Genesis may be just on the edge. Subtitled “RAF Maritime Patrol Projects and Weapons since 1945,” this is 222 pages of unbridled decadence for the minutiae loving aviation buff. Yes, it is an acquired taste, and on the surface may not appeal to yours. It certainly didn't mine. But author Chris Gibson knows how to reel you in.The opening chapter isn't even about aircraft. It concisely sets the stage for subsequent chapters by painting a picture of the “enemy,” the Soviet/Russian Navy, and in particular its submarines. This he follows with a chapter on sensors, how they work, the tactics required for each, and weapons used to counter targets. All these are very well illustrated. Explanatory graphics are clear, concise, and informative. The subsequent chapters about the aircraft begin with the end of World War II and flying boat projects and continue through short- and medium-range maritime reconnaissance, long-range land planes, NATO and the so-called Trinity three-in-one project, and continue chronologically to today.Gibson's writing is focused, there are no distracting side trips into unrelated matters. There is a flow to his work that is easy for the reader to follow and one often leaves a chapter with the thought that “I didn't know that,” or “That makes sense.”My only criticism with this book—and it applies to the entire genre—is that they tease you with such interesting drawings and sketches and leave you wanting because they are too small to be of real value other than to illustrate a shape.I would not have gambled on the subject. It is too far removed from my comfort zone. But I would have lost by not picking it up.Nimrod's Genesis is available from Specialty Press at 1-800-895-4585 or www.specialtypress.com.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book.Nimrod's Genesis is the latest volume in Chris Gibson's series of books for Crecy on RAF projects and weapons. Following on from Vulcan's Hammer (Bombers) and Battle Flight (Fighters), Chris has decided to tackle the less glamorous, less well known subject of maritime patrol.The book is beautifully put together, the drawings, photos and artwork all first class and reproduced perfectly and the excessive typos of Battle Flight are banished. The text is well written and edited, impeccably researched and reads well. There are loads of projects depicted I was previously unaware of, and the coverage of the various designs for the successive requirements is very complete. Chris covers the weapons and sensors used in maritime patrol and a chapter explaining the submarine threat that the Soviet Navy posed. If you have any interest in the subject of maritime patrol aircraft, I am sure this book will be a delight. I liked the HS.1011/HS.1023 (impractical but cool), and the Maritime Patrol Vulcan was unexpected.In summary then, a great reference on RAF Maritime Patrol requirements and development, well worth buying. Crecy continue to impress with their releases, and Chris Gibson does a very good job of making a coherent narrative from the source material, not just a "stamp collection" of projects.Sticking the Maritime Patrol Vulcan on the cover was a great idea - pity there were no MPA TSR.2 projects :)In conclusion - buy it, its very interesting and deserves to do well.

Great background to England's way of coming up with both aircraft and the systems for doing anti-submarine and general maritime patrol work since WWII. And we thought the F-35 program was a bad, long drawn out process. The Brits were way ahead of us!

A very detailed look at British postwar Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft including the very complex story of how the RAF ended up with the Nimrod after a few false starts and the proposals to replace the MR2 including the ill-fated MRA4.. The book has probably the most comprehensive account of all the main Maritime Patrol Aircraft proposals since the Second World War including many 3 view drawings, illustrations and cgi renderings. There is a massive amount of information in this book yet remains very readable

This is a very good book on maritime patrol aircraft, but it's a truly excellent one on military procurement processes and the convoluted route by which Britain went in circles for quite so long before choosing Shackleton and Nimrod. It also explains much of the aerospace company histories during the 1950s and 1960s and the political porkbarrelling involved.Recommended for anyone who thinks they might have some interest in the obvious scope of maritime patrol, but especially for those interested in the industrial history of the policies and economics behind them.

A lot of information that was unknown to me before. Very enjoyable

An excellent book full of detail. Some full colour prints of some of the concepts would have been welcome rather than black and white drawings but otherwise a useful addition to an enthusiasts bookcase.

Some of the technical data is not accurate.