Tank Craft 42 Jagdtiger Heavy Tank Destroyer

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JagdTiger Heavy Tank Destroyer

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1399033816
Total Pages : 127 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (99 download)

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Book Synopsis JagdTiger Heavy Tank Destroyer by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book JagdTiger Heavy Tank Destroyer written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2024-06-30 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the markings, camouflage and technical aspects of the Jagdtigers that fought in the last battles of the war. By 1943, confronted by heavier enemy tanks in increasing numbers, German field commanders were asking for a more potent tank destroyer, building on the success of the Sturmgeschütz program. Coincidentally, at this time the Tiger II was well into the development stage and experiments were being undertaking with the huge 12.8cm L/55 gun, originally designed as an anti-aircraft weapon, and the two were eventually combined as the Panzerjäger Tiger ausf B, better known as the Jagdtiger. Going into combat for the first time in January 1945 these massive vehicles were almost impervious to any anti-tank gun in service at the time and the 12.8cm weapon could penetrate the thickest armor. It was the largest armored fighting vehicle to see action during the Second World War and Hitler was so impressed with these gigantic tank killers that he was briefed on the progress of individual vehicles on a daily basis. Drawing on official documentation and unit histories Dennis Oliver investigates the formations that operated these deservedly famous vehicles and uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the markings, camouflage and technical aspects of the Jagdtigers that fought in the last battles of the war. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic vehicles.

Panzer IV Medium Tank

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1399033875
Total Pages : 68 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (99 download)

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Book Synopsis Panzer IV Medium Tank by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Panzer IV Medium Tank written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2024-09-30 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Originally developed to support the infantry formations of the Germany's armored divisions, the Pzkpfw IV medium tank was increasingly pressed into service as a tank killer as stronger and more well-armored enemy vehicles were encountered. By the end of 1943, despite the appearance of the Tiger and Panther, it could be said that the Pzkpfw IV was the most important tank, at least numerically, in the Wehrmacht's arsenal. Mechanically reliable and relatively cheap to produce the tank's large wheel base and turret circumference meant that it could be up-gunned with minimal disruption to production and adapted to a number of different roles including self-propelled anti-tank gun, anti-aircraft tank, bridgelayer and armored recovery vehicle. Although assembly of the Pzkpfw IV was officially terminated in late 1944, as the tank had fallen out of favour with Hitler, production was soon resumed and continued until the final days of the conflict. In Dennis Oliver's latest volume in the TankCraft series he uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the later models of the Pzkpfw IV tank and the units that operated this deservedly famous armored vehicle during the savage defensive battles against the Soviet army on the Eastern Front in the last months of the war. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.Dennis Oliver is the author of over twenty books on Second World War armored vehicles including Panzer IV Medium Tank: German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign, Summer 1944 and Panther Tanks: Germany Army Panzer Brigades Western and Eastern Fronts, 1944–1945

Heavy Jagdpanzer

Author : Walter J. Spielberger
Publisher : Schiffer Pub Limited
ISBN 13 : 9780764326257
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (262 download)

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Book Synopsis Heavy Jagdpanzer by : Walter J. Spielberger

Download or read book Heavy Jagdpanzer written by Walter J. Spielberger and published by Schiffer Pub Limited. This book was released on 2007 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume in the series presents the Wehrmacht's heavy tank destroyers: Ferdinand, Jagdpanther and Jagdtiger with previously unpublished photos and action reports.

The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II

Author : Karlheinz Münch
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 0811769259
Total Pages : 385 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (117 download)

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Book Synopsis The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II by : Karlheinz Münch

Download or read book The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II written by Karlheinz Münch and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-03-15 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 was equipped with the heaviest tank destroying vehicles of the German armed forces. Initially activated as an assault gun battalion and redesignated in April 1943, the 653 received its first Ferdinand heavy tank destroyers (later modified and renamed Elephants) in May 1943 and went into action on the Eastern Front a month later. In 1944, the unit converted to the even more massive Jagdtiger. The seventy-five-ton, heavily armored Jagdtiger was the behemoth of the battlefield and boasted a 128mm gun-as opposed to the Ferdinand's 88-with a range of more than thirteen miles, making it deadly despite its limited mobility. Outfitted with these lethal giants, the 653 saw service in Russia, Italy, Austria, and Germany. The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II includes hundreds of photos, many never published before, of Germany's rarely seen tank destroyers, including the Ferdinand, Elephant, and Jagdtiger. Color illustrations focus on unit markings, numbering, and camouflage, and the accompanying text chronicles the unit's combat operations as well as personal accounts from the men who rode in these mechanical monsters.

Hetzer - Jagdpanzer 38 Tank Destroyer

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1526791218
Total Pages : 64 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Hetzer - Jagdpanzer 38 Tank Destroyer by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Hetzer - Jagdpanzer 38 Tank Destroyer written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2021-08-04 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By 1944 the German army was on the defensive on all fronts and Allied bombing was putting increasing pressure on the nation's industrial output. Since the earliest days of the war the Germans had experimented with mounting anti-tank weapons on obsolete chassis and one of the most successful of these would prove to be the Jagdpanzer 38, more often referred to today as the Hetzer. Small and unimposing the Hetzer's appearance belied its effectiveness. Armed with the powerful 7.5cm L/48 gun, the same weapon fitted to the Jadgpanzer IV, the Hetzer featured armour sloped armour plates of up to 60mm thickness and was capable of a top speed of 42 kilometres per hour. Almost 3,000 examples were assembled and its low cost and ease of production meant that it was Germany's most important tank killer of the late war period. In his latest book in the TankCraft series Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Hetzer tank destroyers and the units of the German Army and Waffen-SS that operated them during the last months of the Second World war. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.

Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781526710895
Total Pages : 64 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (18 download)

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Book Synopsis Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer written by Dennis Oliver and published by . This book was released on 2018-01-08 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combining the destructive firepower of the 88mm gun with the outstanding mobility of the Panther series, the Jagdpanther is quite probably the best-known tank destroyer of the Second World War. In the vehicle's first action on 30 July 1944, three Jagdpanthers managed to destroy eleven British tanks in a vicious two minute fire fight near the village of Les Loges in Normandy, cementing the Jagdpanther's reputation as a potent tank killer. In his fifth book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses contemporary photographs and meticulously researched, superbly presented color and monochrome illustrations to tell the story of these heavy self-propelled antitank guns and the units which operated them in the German defense of the Western Front. As with all the books in the TankCraft series, a large part of this work showcases available model kits and after market products, complemented by a gallery of expertly constructed and painted models. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also explained giving the modeler all the information and knowledge required.

Jagdtiger

Author : Andy McHale
Publisher : Leandoer and Eckholm
ISBN 13 : 9789185657018
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (57 download)

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Book Synopsis Jagdtiger by : Andy McHale

Download or read book Jagdtiger written by Andy McHale and published by Leandoer and Eckholm. This book was released on 2009-04-15 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Jagdtiger was a logical extension of the creation of Jagdpanzer designs from tank designs such as the Jagdpanther from the Panther tank. The Jagdtiger used a boxy superstructure on top of a lengthened Tiger II chassis. The resulting vehicle featured very heavy armor and the powerful 128-mm PaK 44 L/55 gun capable of defeating any tank fielded in World War II, even at long ranges. The Jagdtiger suffered from a variety of mechanical and technical problems due to its immense weight and underpowered engine. Despite these shortcomings, it was still very effective in defensive roles. It wasn't just the biggest vehicle of the war, but it had the biggest gun with the greatest caliber. And its power to kill tanks would be great even on the modern battlefield. So why wasn't it successful? Why didn't they build more of them? Which units used it? Were there any modifications on the model? These questions and many more are answered in this second release of our new Tech series.

United States Tanks and Tank Destroyers of the Second World War

Author : Michael Green
Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1526787482
Total Pages : 395 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis United States Tanks and Tank Destroyers of the Second World War by : Michael Green

Download or read book United States Tanks and Tank Destroyers of the Second World War written by Michael Green and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2021-12-30 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive and superbly illustrated book describes in authoritative detail the characteristics and contribution to victory of these formidable American fighting vehicles. Only after the Nazis invaded Poland and France did the United States Government authorize mass production of tanks. By the end of the War American industry had built nearly 90,000 tanks, more than Germany and Great Britain combined. The first big order in May 1940 was for 365 M2A4 light tanks, the initial iteration of the Stuart series, with almost 24,000 constructed. The Stuart series was supplemented by almost 5,000 units of the M24 Chaffee light tank. There was also the failed M22 Locust light tank intended for airborne operations. The M4 series of medium tanks, best known as the Sherman, were the most numerous with some 50,000 in service with not only the American military but British and other Allied armies. It was not until later in the war that the M26 Pershing heavy tank was built. Initially the US Army doctrine saw tanks as primarily for the exploitation role. Later the concept of tank destroyers evolved to counter large scale German armored offensives. These defensive AFVs included the half-track-based 75mm Gun Motor Carriage M3 and the full-tracked M10, M18, and M36. This comprehensive and superbly illustrated book describes in authoritative detail the characteristics and contribution to victory of these formidable fighting vehicles.

M10 and M36 Tank Destroyers 1942–53

Author : Steven J. Zaloga
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1782002375
Total Pages : 120 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (82 download)

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Book Synopsis M10 and M36 Tank Destroyers 1942–53 by : Steven J. Zaloga

Download or read book M10 and M36 Tank Destroyers 1942–53 written by Steven J. Zaloga and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-08-20 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The US Army had a unique tactical doctrine during World War II, placing the emphasis for tank fighting on its Tank Destroyer Command whose main early-war vehicle was the M10 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage, based on the reliable M4A2 Sherman tank chassis. This durable and versatile vehicle saw combat service from the North Africa campaign in 1943. By 1944, its gun was not powerful enough and it was rearmed with the new 90 mm gun, becoming the M36 90mm Gun Motor Carriage. This book details one of the only US armoured vehicles capable of dealing with the Panther and Tiger during the Battle of the Bulge.

Seek, Strike, and Destroy

Author : Christopher Richard Gabel
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 104 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (31 download)

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Book Synopsis Seek, Strike, and Destroy by : Christopher Richard Gabel

Download or read book Seek, Strike, and Destroy written by Christopher Richard Gabel and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the seventy years that have passed since the tank first appeared, antitank combat has presented one of the greatest challenges in land warfare. Dramatic improvements in tank technology and doctrine over the years have precipitated equally innovative developments in the antitank field. One cycle in this ongoing arms race occurred during the early years of World War II when the U.S. Army sought desperately to find an antidote to the vaunted German blitzkrieg. This Leavenworth Paper analyzes the origins of the tank destroyer concept, evaluates the doctrine and equipment with which tank destroyer units fought, and assesses the effectiveness of the tank destroyer in battle.

Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen and Sword
ISBN 13 : 1526741830
Total Pages : 152 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2019-02-28 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An in-depth overview of these fearsome heavy tanks, including photos, illustrations, and modeling information. Tiger tanks were among the most-feared fighting vehicles of the Second World War. They gained almost legendary status—yet they never fulfilled their potential, because they were not produced in sufficient numbers and the tide of the war had turned against the German army by the time they were introduced. Often they were deployed in difficult circumstances and in defensive battles, struggling against the odds. Nowhere was this truer than in western Europe during the Allied advance across France and into Germany, and it is the Tigers of this phase of the war that Dennis Oliver portrays in his third volume on the Tiger in the TankCraft series. Using archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations, he examines the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Allied armor and air attacks during the last days of the conflict. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.

Hetzer - Jagdpanzer 38 Tank Destroyer

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen & Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 9781526791184
Total Pages : 64 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (911 download)

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Book Synopsis Hetzer - Jagdpanzer 38 Tank Destroyer by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Hetzer - Jagdpanzer 38 Tank Destroyer written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen & Sword Military. This book was released on 2021-08-30 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By 1944 the German army was on the defensive on all fronts and Allied bombing was putting increasing pressure on the nation's industrial output. Since the earliest days of the war the Germans had experimented with mounting anti-tank weapons on obsolete chassis and one of the most successful of these would prove to be the Jagdpanzer 38, more often referred to today as the Hetzer. Small and unimposing the Hetzer's appearance belied its effectiveness. Armed with the powerful 7.5cm L/48 gun, the same weapon fitted to the Jadgpanzer IV, the Hetzer featured armour sloped armour plates of up to 60mm thickness and was capable of a top speed of 42 kilometres per hour. Almost 3,000 examples were assembled and its low cost and ease of production meant that it was Germany's most important tank killer of the late war period. In his latest book in the TankCraft series Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Hetzer tank destroyers and the units of the German Army and Waffen-SS that operated them during the last months of the Second World war. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.

Jagdpanzer IV - German Army and Waffen-SS Tank Destroyers

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1526771705
Total Pages : 64 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Jagdpanzer IV - German Army and Waffen-SS Tank Destroyers by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Jagdpanzer IV - German Army and Waffen-SS Tank Destroyers written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2020-08-31 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combining the destructive firepower of the 75mm gun with the mobility of the Pzkpfw IV medium tank , the Jagdpanzer IV was quite possibly the most effective tank destroyer of the Second World War. From early 1944 these vehicles were allocated to the anti-tank battalions of Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions and saw action in Normandy, the Ardennes and the final battles in Germany. In his latest book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses contemporary photographs and meticulously researched, superbly presented color and monochrome illustrations to tell the story of these self-propelled anti-tank guns and the units which operated them in the German defense of the Western Front. As with all the books in the TankCraft series, a large part of this work showcases available model kits and after-market products, complemented by a gallery of expertly constructed and painted models. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also explained giving the modeler all the information and knowledge required.

Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1526791234
Total Pages : 137 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2021-04-30 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By the first weeks of 1945, the Eastern Front had been pushed back to the Carpathian mountain passes in the south and Warsaw on the Vistula River in the center, while in the north, the German army was fighting in East Prussia. The Wehrmacht's armored and mobile formations were now employed exclusively as fire brigades, rushed from one crisis to the next as the Red Army pushed inexorably westward. Critical to the German defense were the army's heavy Panzer battalions whose Tiger tanks, with their 8.8 cm guns, were almost invincible on the open plains of central Europe. In his latest book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy Panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Soviet armor during the last days of the conflict which culminated in the battle for Berlin. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.

Tiger I

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen and Sword
ISBN 13 : 152673978X
Total Pages : 152 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Tiger I by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Tiger I written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2018-04-30 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fully illustrated guide to the German Tiger I tank and its operations in the field by the renowned expert on WWII armored vehicles. At Hitler’s insistence, the first Tiger I tanks drove into action in Tunisia in December 1942. Despite their lack of reliability and the small number deployed, they quickly gained a fierce reputation. With its heavy armor and 88mm gun, the Tiger I outclassed all the Allied tanks then in service. Beyond their deployment in North Africa, they also operated in Sicily and Italy between 1943 and 1945. In his second volume in the TankCraft series on the Tiger, Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Tiger tank and the German army units that first took them into combat. Perfect for model enthusiasts, Tiger I showcases available model kits and aftermarket products. It also includes a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details, as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field, are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the tanks.

Tiger I: German Army Heavy Tank

Author : Dennis Oliver
Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 1526755831
Total Pages : 64 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Tiger I: German Army Heavy Tank by : Dennis Oliver

Download or read book Tiger I: German Army Heavy Tank written by Dennis Oliver and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2019-10-30 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Tiger I tank, probably the most famous German armoured vehicle of the Second World War, might have been a war-winning, break-through weapon if it had been produced in sufficient numbers and if it had been introduced earlier on the Eastern Front, before the balance of strength had tipped towards the Soviet Union. At the Battle of Kursk there were not enough Tigers to make a decisive difference and thereafter the Tiger was forced to play a mainly defensive role as the Wehrmacht struggled to withstand the advances of the Red Army. And it is this period in the Tiger tank’s short history that Dennis Oliver concentrates on in this, his third book on the Tiger in the TankCraft series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched colour illustrations to examine the tanks and units of the German army’s heavy panzer battalions. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of the Tigers of 1943.

The Tank Killers

Author : Harry Yeide
Publisher : Casemate
ISBN 13 : 1935149733
Total Pages : 357 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (351 download)

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Book Synopsis The Tank Killers by : Harry Yeide

Download or read book The Tank Killers written by Harry Yeide and published by Casemate. This book was released on 2005-01-19 with total page 357 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A fantastic read . . . Whether your interest is armour or history I would highly recommend this book” (Military Modelling). The tank destroyer was a bold—though some would say flawed—answer to the challenge posed by the seemingly unstoppable German Blitzkrieg. The TD was conceived to be light and fast enough to outmaneuver panzer forces and go where tanks could not. At the same time, the TD would wield the firepower needed to kill any German tank on the battlefield. Indeed, American doctrine stipulated that TDs would fight tanks, while American tanks would concentrate on achieving and exploiting breakthroughs of enemy lines. The Tank Killers follows the men who fought in the TDs, from the formation of the force in 1941 through the victory over the Third Reich in 1945. It is a story of American flexibility and pragmatism in military affairs. Tank destroyers were among the very first units to land in North Africa in 1942. Their first vehicles were ad hoc affairs: halftracks and weapons carriers with guns no better than those on tanks, thin armor affording the crews considerably less protection. Almost immediately, the crews began adapting to circumstances, along with their partners in the infantry and armored divisions. By the time North Africa was in Allied hands, the TD had become a valued tank fighter, assault gun, and artillery piece. The reconnaissance teams in TD battalions, meanwhile, had established a record for daring operations that would continue for the rest of the war. The story continues with the invasion of Italy and, finally, that of Fortress Europe on June 6, 1944. By now, the brass had decreed that half the force would convert to towed guns, a decision that dogged the affected crews through the end of the war. The TD men encountered increasingly lethal enemies, ever more dangerous panzers that were often vulnerable only to their guns, while American tank crews watched in frustration as their rounds bounced harmlessly off the thick German armor. They fought under incredibly diverse conditions that demanded constant modification of tactics, and their equipment became ever more deadly. By VE-Day, the tank destroyer battalions had achieved impressive records, generally with kill-loss rates heavily in their favor. Yet the army after the war concluded that the concept of a separate TD arm was so fundamentally flawed that not a single battalion existed after November 1946. The Tank Killers draws heavily on the records of the tank destroyer battalions and the units with which they fought, as well as personal stories from veterans of the force.