Defending Rodinu - Volume 2 by Krzysztof Dabrowski - Book Review

Here we are with volume two of Defending Rodinu, this time continuing the story from 1961 to 1991, and this is where things get more interesting as technological and organisation developments both aid and hinder the air defence of the Soviet Union. 

The first chapter gives a run down of the PVO (Soviet Air Defence Force), its organisation and the surveillance, control and early warning systems it employed. Chapter two focuses on the developments in surface to air and anti-ballistic missile technology throughout the period covered - the amount of effort put into fielding highly advanced technology for the time is impressive, despite the obvious effects such spending would have on the wider Soviet economy - but that's a tale for another time. 

Chapter three covers the aircraft pushed into service and the various missile systems they used. As a military aviation enthusiast, I do like the design of early jets, and the range of Soviet machines do, at least for me, have a certain je ne sais quoi. From the svelte Sukhoi Su-11 to the more sedate looking Yakolev Yak-25, there are some striking looking aircraft here. The purposeful Yak-28 gets some love, as does the incomparable (and might fine) Tupolev Tu-128 - now that is how you build a long-range interceptor!

Chapters four and five cover polar and border intercepts, whilst chapter six proves that there is nothing new in this world as the Soviets dealt with many a balloon incursion long before it became fashionable to shoot down the things using an almost priceless F-22 and an expensive AIM-9X. 

Chapter seven is a more sombre read, taking on the subject of airline intercepts and, of course, covering the infamous shoot down of KAL Flight 007 in 1983. There were other intercepts, but none ended in the tragedy that engulfed that Korean Air Lines 747. 

Chapter eight is all about the defections that the service suffered, nine features the successful shoot downs of valid targets, whilst ten highlights possibly the most absurd missed interception of the Cold War, Mathias Rust's jolly boys day out to Moscow. It wasn't the only light aircraft shenanigans, as you'll find out here. The final chapter relates the closing period of the Cold War.

There are a couple of appendices: Commander of the PVO between 1945 and 1991, and a chronological list of the PVO's aerial victories, of which there were many more than I expected. 

As always with a Helion & Co publication, there are numerous photographs, maps and diagrams, all of which are high quality - taking into account the nature of the original imagery and its age, whilst the central artwork section has some lovely profiles of the aircraft featured within. For those who, in the best traditions of the Federal Network infomercials, want to know more, there is a cracking bibliography to investigate too. 

In the same vein as volume one, this is a well written, highly informative and interesting look at how the Soviet Union approached air defence through the Cold War. With plenty to read, look at and follow up on, they're a very worthy pair on the subject, and of much benefit to history fans and those who may wish to put something on the table. You can buy this (and the preceding volume) directly from Helion and Co here, as well as follow the publisher on Twitter here. 

Defending Rodinu - Volume 1 by Krzysztof Dabrowski - Book Review

A new week, a new Helion & Co release (or so it seems when you're on their mailing list) and it didn't take long for me to decide to pick up a copy of one of their most recent titles, especially as it had the usual discount applied for the release weekend.

Defending Rodinu by Krzysztof Dąbrowski is the first volume of a pair to look at the air defences of the Soviet Union in the post World War 2 period. Covering the years 1945 to 1960, this is a favourite period of mine in both Cold War history and military aviation in general. The move from piston engines to jets (and rockets for some), plus the almost never-ending technological changes that ran through the period covered here is one that has fascinated me for years. Off topic, but look at the development of combat aircraft for the RAF in the 1950's. There were so many changes and new theoretical processes that a project started in 1950 was extremely unlikely to be anywhere near cutting edge (if it saw service at all) by the end of the decade. 

Back to the Soviet Union though, and the author begins this 72-page tome with a walkthrough of how the air defences of the Soviet Union developed from 1945 onwards, detailing the aircraft types, surface to air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, radars and the organisation of the entity entrusted with stopping foreign bombers from laying waste to the Motherland. 

Once past the introduction, we get accounts of the various overflights undertaken by the US and its allies, the Soviet responses and the human cost as aircraft were shot down even though it was, ostensibly, peacetime. There is coverage of the political background to each event and, touchingly, the names of each of the crews that sometimes, but not always, survived their encounter with the PVO. The sheer challenge that the PVO faced is presented plainly and without condescension. The geographical nature of the Soviet Union's border and the immature technology of the time combined to make it an immensely difficult task but the defenders of Soviet airspace grew in ability and confidence as the years progressed. It must be remembered that this wasn't just cutting edge technology, it was bleeding, and many paid the price of their political master's orders.

This is a well illustrated book with a large number of contemporary photographs, and I am sure some of the modellers out there will find something useful here. There are also a good number of maps and diagrams that you'd expect from a Helion & Co. release, as well as the always excellent quality colour plates in the centre pages. 

Mr Dabrowski should be congratulated on an excellently written first volume on a topic that never seems to get much of an airing. Most of the sources I have on reconnaissance flights in the Cold War are written from the US/NATO perspective (although it could very well be that I just need to expand my library), so this is a worthy addition to the topic and I shall be perusing the excellent bibliography for future purchases. I can honestly say that I am very much looking forward to the second volume.

You can buy Defending Rodinu directly from the Helion & Co website here. You can pre-register your interest in volume 2, covering the period 1960 to 1989 which is due out in the Autumn, here.