Panther Tanks: German Army and Waffen-SS, Defence of the West, 1945 PDF Download

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1526755912
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 140

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Book Description
A guide that blends the history behind the German World War II tank with resources for military vehicle modeling enthusiasts. In late 1944 and 1945, the Panther tank played an important role in Germany’s desperate efforts to stem the Allied advance on the Western Front. The Panther, perhaps the best armored vehicle produced by Germany during the Second World War, was a key element in the Wehrmacht’s defensive tactics, in rearguard actions and counterattacks, and it took a prominent part in the last German offensive of the war, in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. So it is an ideal subject for Dennis Oliver’s latest volume in the TankCraft series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Panther tanks and units of the German army and Waffen-SS panzer battalions that struggled to resist the Allied onslaught. 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. Praise for Panther Tanks “A great book, especially for beginners and intermediate modelers, or those building their first Panther tank.” —AMPS “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.” —Military Vehicles

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399065033
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
The Allied invasions of Sicily and the Italian mainland had been met with tenacious resistance by the Germans but the defense consisted for the most part of armored units that were little different to those the British had faced in North Africa. But in early 1944, with the landings at Anzio and Nettuno and the attempt to bypass the German defensive line, the Wehrmacht’s high command began shipping heavier and more powerful tanks to the Southern Front including an increasing number Tigers and Panthers. The initial models of the latter had gone into combat for the first time in July 1943 and it was planned that every Panzer regiment would eventually contain a battalion of these impressive vehicles. 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 Pzkpfw V tanks that wee an integral part of the German defense of the Italian peninsula. 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 vehicles.

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399033832
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
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.

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 139905032X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 69

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Book Description
The lightning advances of the German armored units during the Polish and French campaigns were spearheaded by fast-moving, armed reconnaissance vehicles. But these early designs suffered heavily due to their light weaponry and thin armor and a program was soon underway, led by the firm of Büssing-NAG, which culminated in the development of the Sdkfz 234 series of heavy eight-wheeled armored cars, the first of which entered service in late 1943. These vehicles proved to be rugged and reliable and were gradually up-armed to serve in the infantry support role and eventually as tank killers. This volume of the LandCraft series concludes the story of the Sdkfz 234 series, examining the versions that took part in the last battles of the war. Using archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations Dennis Oliver examines the Sdkfz 234/1 and Sdkfz 234/2 and the units that operated these often neglected, yet important, armored vehicles. 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.

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399065157
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 70

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Book Description
The Pzkpfw III tank was the mainstay of the Panzer divisions during the Blitzkrieg era and made up the bulk of the armored force sent to North Africa. Although less heavily armored than many of its opponents it was sturdy and reliable and its main armament was the equal of any enemy weapon it was called upon to face. Operating in one of the most inhospitable environments on earth the Pzkpfw III was at the forefront of the dramatic advances of 1941 and the defensive efforts of the following year, all undertaken in the incredible vastness of the Libyan desert. This volume of the TankCraft series concludes the story of the tank’s North African service, examining the models that took part in the campaign beginning with the retreat from El Alamein and ending with the surrender of the last Axis forces in Tunisia in May 1943. Using archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Pzkpfw III and the units that operated this deservedly famous armored vehicle during the final battles in North Africa. 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.

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399033875
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
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

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1526791218
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
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.

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399017977
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 151

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Book Description
In July 1943 the German army launched what was to be its last major offensive on Soviet soil. Codenamed Operation Citadel, the attack had initially been scheduled to commence in May but was postponed by Hitler on a number of occasions to allow the divisions in the East to be reinforced and to ensure that the new Panther tanks could be deployed. In the fifth book on the Panther in this series Dennis Oliver examines the first vehicles that left the assembly plants to go into service against the Red Army as part of Operation Citadel and the units that arrived in the late summer and early autumn of 1943. In addition to archive photographs and painstakingly researched, exquisitely presented color illustrations, a large part of this 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 Panther tanks that fought in the East in 1943.

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399065114
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
The Sherman tank served with most Allied armies during the Second World War and it is justly famous for the role it played in the Normandy landings and the subsequent drive into Germany. But the part played by the British commonwealth armored units in the Italian campaign is less well known and in his latest volume in the TankCraft series Dennis Oliver uses wartime photos, extensively researched text and highly-detailed color illustrations to cover the Sherman tanks of the Canadian, New Zealand and South African armies that battled their way up the Italian peninsula. Although it was often out-gunned by its opponents the Sherman’s ability to handle the worst terrain and its mechanical reliability ensured that it was at the forefront of every battle and contributed greatly to the final Allied victory. Examined in this book are both the 75mm armed version and the potent tank killer referred to toady as the Firefly, as well as a number of little-known field modifications. A large part of this work 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 these historic vehicles.

Author: Dennis Oliver
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1526771705
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
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.