Osprey- US Tank Tactics in World War II

Book Specifics

Author: Steven J. Zaloga

Illustrated by Steve Noon

Price: $21.00

ISBN 978-1-4728-7132-9

Softcover, 64 pages with 8 color artwork plates and numerous black and white and color photos and illustrations

What's Inside

 It is pretty much as the title says-- this volume in the Osprey Elite Series looks at the progression of US tank tactics from its earliest origins with borrowed tanks in WWI through WWII. The primary emphasis is on combat in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), but also touches on other theaters. The author notes that the ETO accounted for 77% of wartime armor losses, as opposed to 10% in Italy and the Pacific, and only 3% in North Africa. The chapters break down into:

• Origins of US Tank Tactics
• Tank Tactics in 1940-41
• The Basics: Tanks, Tactics, and Organization
• Tank Unit Organization and Tactics 1940-43
• US Tank Tactics Mature: 1943
• Tank Tactics in Combat 1944-45
• Lessons Learned
• Further Reading
• Index

The Origins section looks at the US in WWI as they started using French supplied Renault light tanks and into the years between the wars as the government tried to curb military spending after the 'war to end all wars'. Tactics were developed quickly as clouds of war gathered over Europe once again and despite the desire to stay out of foreign wars, the US began modernizing their military to meet the growing threat.

The Basics section highlights the differences between light and medium tanks and gives a brief overview of crew drill.

The Organization chapter defines the breakdown of the different structures making up US armor- from tank platoons, tank companies, armored/tank battalions, armoured regiments, and divisions. In this chapter, we get a grasp of different formations and how adaptations made for better success.

As tactics mature in 1943, we see glimpses of operations in North Africa and Sicily and what was learned in those early challenges facing German panzer groups with superior experience.

Tank Tactics in Combat is the most extensive section in the book, looking at the following subsections:

• Tactics in ETO amphibious landings
• Tank/infantry cooperation: separate tank battalions
• Tank/infantry radio communications and their inherent challenges
• Bocage-busting tactics
• Armored divisions in exploitation
• Tanks in urban combat
• Tank-vs-tank fighting
• Armored division combined-arms tactics
• Tactics in PTO amphibious landings

Scattered throughout the text are useful tables and information. This book is not heavy on specifics with each type of tank- focusing on tactics as the title says. Yet the author does provide a throughout listing of resources for further reading at the back.

Conclusion

As always, Zaloga proves himself to be a prolific resource for those wanting to delve into specific WWII armor titles. Despite it's small size, this book is jammed with excellent information that is easy to decipher and ingest. The handful of color artwork strengthen the understanding of tactics and show some evocative combat action. Photos and charts throughout are useful and inspiring- and the extensive list of further reading gives the reader what they need to delve deeper if desired. A worthy book to pick up if you are interested in American armor in WWII.

Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders.

Thanks goes out to Osprey Publishing for this review sample.

Reviewed by Michael Reeves, AMPS Albany

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