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Book Review
Panther Tanks
Panther Tanks German Army Brigades Western and Eastern Fronts 1944-1945
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by: Darren Baker [ CMOT ]

Introduction

This offering from Pen and Sword as part of their Tank Craft series and is on this occasion looks at Panther Tanks German Army Brigades Western and Eastern Fronts 1944-1945. This book as with all of the titles in this series are I feel an attempt to offer the modeller a combination package covering both reference on the vehicles and a look at the models available to replicate the Panther as a scale model.

The following portion of the introduction is from the Pen and Sword website:
In July 1944, with the Eastern Front crumbling and the first cracks appearing in the Normandy defences, Hitler ordered the creation of a new type of unit based on the ad-hoc Kampfgruppen which the Germans used so successfully throughout the war. Hastily assembled and short-lived these independent Panzer brigades nevertheless served on both fronts in some of the fiercest fighting of the conflict. The real striking power of the initial units would a battalion equipped with the Pzkpfw V Panther, perhaps the most effective armoured vehicle produced by Germany during the Second World War. In Dennis Oliver's latest volume in the TankCraft series he uses archive photos and extensively researched colour illustrations to examine the Panther battalions of the Panzer brigades that fought to hold back the Allied advance during the last months of 1944. 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.

Review

This offering from Pen and Sword is authored by Dennis Oliver; Dennis Oliver has authored nineteen of titles in this series and is at home covering both Allied and Axis armour. This is a soft backed book with a good card cover protecting 64 pages of semi gloss paper. The contents of this title are laid out as follows:

Introduction
The First Generation Panzer Brigades
The Second Generation Panzer Brigade
Camouflage and Markings
Model Showcase
Modelling Products
The Third Generation Panzer Brigades
The Other Panzer Brigades
Technical Details and Modifications
Product Contact Details

This offering from Pen and Sword for the most part covers what units got what panthers and when. You are provided with a brief outline of where the panther equipped units were if known and so is a useful reference to quickly find what units you wish to represent and where you intend to display that model you spent hours building and detailing. The photographs are well chosen and for the most part are a decent size, they also provide some interesting situations that the tanks found themselves in or ended their days and I really like that. The photographs are provided with captions and these are very well written.

What I think of as the modelling sections of the title starts with the camouflage and markings and this shows a number of Panther tanks from two aspects covering either the left or right side only, something I wish was not the case. Looking at these drawings does make me think that the green used is too green and this has been pointed out previously, but I can forgive this attribute as it still shows the patterns used in various cases. The models covered here are basically just builds and while it shows what can be achieved it does not explain how to get there. The models are as follows:

Panther Ausf A, 1/35th scale, by Alexander Pedan
Ersatz M10 Panther Ausf G, Panzer Brigade 150, 1/35th scale, by Eric D Wisdom
Panther Ausf G, Panzer Brigade 106, 1/35th scale, Du Wei Jie

The models and aftermarket offerings are reasonable well covered and I was surprised and pleased to see Meng and RFM model offerings covered in the title. Looking at what is provided will give any modeller at good look at what is available at there at this time.

Conclusion

This offering from Pen and Sword as part of their Tank Craft book series is I believe the fourth book in the series covering the Panther tank. This offering is the equal of those that have gone before and meet my expectations of the series as a whole. I appreciate that the photographs are a decent size in most cases which increases their value. The only down side I can think of is that the green in the drawings is too green in my opinion.
SUMMARY
Darren Baker takes a look at one of the latest offerings from Pen and Sword as part of their Tank Craft series covering Panther Tanks German Army Brigades Western and Eastern Fronts 1944-1945.
  Scale: N/A
  Mfg. ID: ISBN 9781526771599
  Suggested Retail: £16.99
  PUBLISHED: Oct 21, 2020
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.04%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 94.00%

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About Darren Baker (CMOT)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM

I have been building model kits since the early 70’s starting with Airfix kits of mostly aircraft, then progressing to the point I am at now building predominantly armour kits from all countries and time periods. Living in the middle of Salisbury plain since the 70’s, I have had lots of opportunitie...

Copyright ©2021 text by Darren Baker [ CMOT ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Good review as always Darren. The only comment I would make is touched on by your review, namely that this follows on from other books by the author on the Panther, of which I think there are only another 2. The same is true of his books on the Tiger, of which there are four. The author does have a tendency to refer to the earlier books in the series and cross reference them, leaving out detail on the basis that has already been covered thereby making it difficult to regard them as standalone books. As I have them all anyway, it does not particularly bother me but I can see that it would be an issue for someone who is only interested in one particular area or campaign. Otherwise this book is well up to the standard of the others in the series, and collectively the books will build up to a comprehensive study.
OCT 21, 2020 - 01:52 PM
A very good point that I had not considered.
OCT 21, 2020 - 10:11 PM
My personal reference library is large enough that I often acquire books merely for a couple of unique or interesting photos. This series fits in with that objective.
OCT 22, 2020 - 01:50 PM
   
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