Book Review of Panther Tanks,
German Army & Waffen SS Vehicles of the West, 1945
Author: Dennis Oliver
Pen & Sword Ltd.
ISBN: 1526755902
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $22.95
ISBN: 1526755902
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $22.95
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Ltd. is based in South Yorkshire, UK.
This book is paperback of 64 pages in 11 1/2" x 8" page format.
The cover art shows modeler Sheng Hui's 1/35th scale Man March production Panther Ausf. G (shown inside the book also) in color at the top of the cover.
In the center, from left to right, is a pre-September 1944 production Panther Ausf. G, possibly from III Abtellung, Fuhrer-Grenadier Brigade, photographed during the Ardennes Offensive. A Panther Ausf. G of Kampfgruppe Bennigsen, April 1945 and a Panther Ausf. G of Kampfgruppe Shulze, April 1945.
At the bottom is a Befelspanzerwagen V Panther of Panzer Regiment 130. This vehicle is also shown and discussed on page 24 of the camouflage and markings section of the book.
The back cover has 4 illustrations on it:
At the top is a black and white wartime photo shown in March 1945 of a heavily-camouflaged Panther Ausf. D that is said to have taken part in the fighting for the Rhine crossings. Many of these older tanks were drafted from training establishments and formed into ad-hoc Kampgruppen at the time.
The second color photo shows PE etched brass upgrade set for a later production Panther Ausf. G in 1/35th scale from Voyager Model.
The third black and white photo shows the inside of the devastated MNH Plant at Hannover in May of 1945. Shown are cupolas lacking the metal ring for the anti-aircraft machine gun and feature of the simplified mount introduced in March 1945.
The fourth illustration is a color profile of a late Panther Ausf. G that is shown on page 22 in the book.
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 WWII, was the key element in the Wehrmacht's defensive tactics.
In rearguard actions and counter-attacks , 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 Tank Craft Series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Panther tanks and units of the German army and the Waffen-SS panzer battalions that struggled to resist the Allied onslaught.
There are 25 black and white wartime photos of the Panther Ausf. G. Three of those are the walk-around type.
One map illustration and 4 organizational charts are included in the book.
There are 2 black and white photos of a befehlswagen V.
In the color illustrations section there are three 3-views and five 2-views of the Panther Ausf. G and two 2-views of the panther A.
There are 9 wartime color photos of the Panther Ausf. G.
A key section of this book displays available model kits and after-market products.
Built up models shown are:
A 1/35th scale Rochim Model Panther Ausf. G shown in 14 color walk-around type photos.
A 1/35th scale Tamiya Panther Ausf. G in 5 color walk-around photos,
Two color photos of the metal panzer assault badge and one color picture of SS uniform shoulder labels.
A 1/48th scale Tamiya Panther Ausf. G with 24 color walk-around type photos and three color box arts of various box arts of it.
A 1/35th scale DML Dragon Panther Ausf. A as 2 box arts and one Ausf. G box art and 7 color walk-around photos of the G made up.
A 1/35th scale Takom Panther Ausf. D box arts and one as it made up.
Meng makes a 1/35th scale Ausf. A & D. Four color walk-around type photos show the D made up.
Rye Field makes 1/35th scale models of the Ausf. D & G. There is one color photo of either the D or G built as a cutaway type model.
A 1/35th scale Ausf. G by Amusing Hobby is shown in two color box arts and made up.
A 1/35th scale Trumpeter/Hobby Boss Ausf. D is shown in 4 color walk-around photos and made up.
A 1/35th scale Academy Ausf. D is shown in 4 color walk-around photos.
A 1/35th scale Italeri D & A color box arts are shown with the A made up and with 5 color walk-around photos.
A 1/76th scale Revell & Airfix Ausf. G as three color walk-around photos of it made up. But not said if it is the Revell or the Airfix one?
For after-market accessories:
Eduard in 1/72, 1/48th and 1/35th scales, with the 1/35th scale set shown on the Tamiya Ausf. G made up in color.
Voyager in 1/72nd & 1/35th shown on a Ausf. G in 3 color walk-arounds of a kit made up.
Royal Model 1/35th scale shown in 3 color walk-arounds on either a Ausf. A or G kit made up.
Lion Roar 1/35th scale shown in 3 color walk-arounds on the Ausf. G.
Griffon 1/35th scale shown in 3 color walk-arounds on the Ausf. G.
Aber 1/35th scale shown in 3 color walk-arounds for the Ausf. G.
Black Dog 1/72nd or 1/35th scale D or G. Shown are 3 color walk-arounds, but not told if a D or G or what scale??
Rochm Model 1/35th scale Ausf. G shown in 3 color walk-arounds.
R.B. Models 1/72nd, 1/48th and 1/35th scale turned-metal gun barrels. Three color photos of the barrels.
Model Artisan 1/35th scale set for unknown Ausf. With 3 walk-around color photos.
Panzer Art 1/35th scale set also for unknown Ausf. With 6 walk-around color photos.
E.T. Model `1/72nd scale for the Ausf. D in 3 color walk-around photos.
Friumodel 1/35th scale metal tracks. One color photo.
DKLM 1/35th scale plastic tracks. One color photo.
Taigen 1/35th scale metal tracks. One color photo.
Kaigen 1/35th Scale plastic tracks. One color photo.
About the author:
Dennis Oliver is the author of over 20 books on the Second World War armoured vehicles.
I want to thank Casemate Publishers, who are the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword books for this review sample. Thanks to Pen & Sword also.
All of Pen & Sword's titles can be seen on Casemate's site at:
Pen & Sword Ltd. is based in South Yorkshire, UK.
This book is paperback of 64 pages in 11 1/2" x 8" page format.
The cover art shows modeler Sheng Hui's 1/35th scale Man March production Panther Ausf. G (shown inside the book also) in color at the top of the cover.
In the center, from left to right, is a pre-September 1944 production Panther Ausf. G, possibly from III Abtellung, Fuhrer-Grenadier Brigade, photographed during the Ardennes Offensive. A Panther Ausf. G of Kampfgruppe Bennigsen, April 1945 and a Panther Ausf. G of Kampfgruppe Shulze, April 1945.
At the bottom is a Befelspanzerwagen V Panther of Panzer Regiment 130. This vehicle is also shown and discussed on page 24 of the camouflage and markings section of the book.
The back cover has 4 illustrations on it:
At the top is a black and white wartime photo shown in March 1945 of a heavily-camouflaged Panther Ausf. D that is said to have taken part in the fighting for the Rhine crossings. Many of these older tanks were drafted from training establishments and formed into ad-hoc Kampgruppen at the time.
The second color photo shows PE etched brass upgrade set for a later production Panther Ausf. G in 1/35th scale from Voyager Model.
The third black and white photo shows the inside of the devastated MNH Plant at Hannover in May of 1945. Shown are cupolas lacking the metal ring for the anti-aircraft machine gun and feature of the simplified mount introduced in March 1945.
The fourth illustration is a color profile of a late Panther Ausf. G that is shown on page 22 in the book.
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 WWII, was the key element in the Wehrmacht's defensive tactics.
In rearguard actions and counter-attacks , 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 Tank Craft Series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Panther tanks and units of the German army and the Waffen-SS panzer battalions that struggled to resist the Allied onslaught.
There are 25 black and white wartime photos of the Panther Ausf. G. Three of those are the walk-around type.
One map illustration and 4 organizational charts are included in the book.
There are 2 black and white photos of a befehlswagen V.
In the color illustrations section there are three 3-views and five 2-views of the Panther Ausf. G and two 2-views of the panther A.
There are 9 wartime color photos of the Panther Ausf. G.
A key section of this book displays available model kits and after-market products.
Built up models shown are:
A 1/35th scale Rochim Model Panther Ausf. G shown in 14 color walk-around type photos.
A 1/35th scale Tamiya Panther Ausf. G in 5 color walk-around photos,
Two color photos of the metal panzer assault badge and one color picture of SS uniform shoulder labels.
A 1/48th scale Tamiya Panther Ausf. G with 24 color walk-around type photos and three color box arts of various box arts of it.
A 1/35th scale DML Dragon Panther Ausf. A as 2 box arts and one Ausf. G box art and 7 color walk-around photos of the G made up.
A 1/35th scale Takom Panther Ausf. D box arts and one as it made up.
Meng makes a 1/35th scale Ausf. A & D. Four color walk-around type photos show the D made up.
Rye Field makes 1/35th scale models of the Ausf. D & G. There is one color photo of either the D or G built as a cutaway type model.
A 1/35th scale Ausf. G by Amusing Hobby is shown in two color box arts and made up.
A 1/35th scale Trumpeter/Hobby Boss Ausf. D is shown in 4 color walk-around photos and made up.
A 1/35th scale Academy Ausf. D is shown in 4 color walk-around photos.
A 1/35th scale Italeri D & A color box arts are shown with the A made up and with 5 color walk-around photos.
A 1/76th scale Revell & Airfix Ausf. G as three color walk-around photos of it made up. But not said if it is the Revell or the Airfix one?
For after-market accessories:
Eduard in 1/72, 1/48th and 1/35th scales, with the 1/35th scale set shown on the Tamiya Ausf. G made up in color.
Voyager in 1/72nd & 1/35th shown on a Ausf. G in 3 color walk-arounds of a kit made up.
Royal Model 1/35th scale shown in 3 color walk-arounds on either a Ausf. A or G kit made up.
Lion Roar 1/35th scale shown in 3 color walk-arounds on the Ausf. G.
Griffon 1/35th scale shown in 3 color walk-arounds on the Ausf. G.
Aber 1/35th scale shown in 3 color walk-arounds for the Ausf. G.
Black Dog 1/72nd or 1/35th scale D or G. Shown are 3 color walk-arounds, but not told if a D or G or what scale??
Rochm Model 1/35th scale Ausf. G shown in 3 color walk-arounds.
R.B. Models 1/72nd, 1/48th and 1/35th scale turned-metal gun barrels. Three color photos of the barrels.
Model Artisan 1/35th scale set for unknown Ausf. With 3 walk-around color photos.
Panzer Art 1/35th scale set also for unknown Ausf. With 6 walk-around color photos.
E.T. Model `1/72nd scale for the Ausf. D in 3 color walk-around photos.
Friumodel 1/35th scale metal tracks. One color photo.
DKLM 1/35th scale plastic tracks. One color photo.
Taigen 1/35th scale metal tracks. One color photo.
Kaigen 1/35th Scale plastic tracks. One color photo.
About the author:
Dennis Oliver is the author of over 20 books on the Second World War armoured vehicles.
I want to thank Casemate Publishers, who are the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword books for this review sample. Thanks to Pen & Sword also.
All of Pen & Sword's titles can be seen on Casemate's site at: