ISBN Number: | 978-1-63624-460-0 | Publisher: | Casemate Publishing |
Published: | Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | Retail Price: | $28.95 |
Reviewed By: | Michael Reeves |
Casemate Illustrated- Panzer Crewman
Authors: Simon Forty & Richard Charlton-Taylor
Price: $28.95
ISBN: 978-1-63624-460-0
Paperback, 128 Pages, 7 x 10 in, 150 black and white and color photos
The Casemate Illustrated series has been an enriching series from Casemate Publishing with great reference photos and informative descriptive text. This one takes a look at specifically those who crewed one of the most successful arms of the German military throughout most of WWII. The Panzers in the war changed dramatically from the minimally armed Panzer I's through to the big cats- the Tigers and Panthers which stoked fear in the hearts of those they opposed. Supreme training guaranteed early swiping victories in France and the Low Countries as well as the early stages of the Barbarossa. Time, overzealousness, and the elements worked against them though. As wartime attrition mounted, the Germans were unable to keep up as the Allied war efforts were able to replace crews and tanks at an overabundance in comparison to the lack of fuel and parts due to strategic bombing and multi-front attacks on both sides the Germans suffered.
The book opens up with a timeline of events involving the evolution of the tank in the German Army- from 1929 through to the end of the war. A brief list of abbreviations follows.
Each section of the book afterwards is delineated by color tabs at the top right of the pages to separate the chapters...the Table of Contents includes:
The Introduction is extensive and full of charts and some interesting sidebar articles. Photos here are new to me and provide some interesting insights into the stages of development over the course of the war.
The Soldier breaks down the basics of what it was to be part of a Panzer crew. It highlights Training, Uniforms (and equipment including radio gear), and Awards & Decorations. I found this chart showing the various colors for the Waffenfarbe Piping of interest as I continue to work on my figure painting.
The Units is broken down into Panzer Organization, Unit Numbering and Markings; Establishments; and Panzer Divisions including an emphasis on the Schwere Panzerabteilungen (Heavy Tank Battalions.
The Panzers gives an overview of nearly all of the tanks used in the war- including color photos of modern day museum pieces. There are interesting sidebars on the Schachtellaufwerk interleaved roadwheels, Stowage, Ammunition Stowage and Types, Zimmerit, Crew Seating Positions (with some black and white interior photos), Radio information, Access Doors and Escape Hatches, and Camouflage.
Mobility focuses on various challenges faced by crews- including Traffic Control, River Crossings, Tank Maintenance, and Winterketten and Ostketten. Tactics is a brief chapter that focuses on Command Vehicles, Tank Attack (including a sidebar on Attack Formations), and Tanks in Withdrawal. A two-page excerpt from Panzer Vorwärts!- Aber mit Verstand by Heinz Guderian is of particular interest. Life in the Field is quite short due to space reasons- and this would be a section I would think should take up more space. The authors do suggest two works for further details listed in the References and Further Reading section. Some photos here make some interesting diorama ideas apparent though.
I have come to appreciate this series of books from Casemate due to the focused themes and extensive photo libraries. There are plenty of statistics and numbers for those who appreciate such things- and great detailed shots and drawings for those looking for references in their models. The photos I captured from my scanner don't fully relate the clarity of the images- so don't let that deter you from adding this to your collection.
Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders.
Thanks goes out to Casemate Publishing for this review sample.
Reviewed by Michael Reeves
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