Book Review of
Operation Market Garden
A Bridge Too Far
Author: Ben Skipper
Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
Battle Craft Series
ISBN: 9781399007665
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $28.95
Battle Craft Series
ISBN: 9781399007665
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $28.95
HISTORY:
Every general’s aim is to end a war by Christmas and Montgomery, perhaps, saw his opportunity to hold a strike across the southern portion of the Netherlands close to the borders of an embattled Reich.
Still heady from earlier victories in the Normandy Campaign, the plan to push deep into enemy territory, with land and airborne forces, was a daring as it was dangerous. Some would say the furthest objective, Arnhem Bridge, was a bridge too far.
Separated into two distinct elements, Market, the airborne assault, was designed to capture the vital bridges across the many rivers and canals that were needed. Garden, the ground assault, would ensure the bridges were soon part of a wider Allied salient. However, planning and intelligence was not as thorough as it had been in previous operations and Market, Garden turned from glorious adventure, with easily achievable aims, to almost devastating defeat.
Every general’s aim is to end a war by Christmas and Montgomery, perhaps, saw his opportunity to hold a strike across the southern portion of the Netherlands close to the borders of an embattled Reich.
Still heady from earlier victories in the Normandy Campaign, the plan to push deep into enemy territory, with land and airborne forces, was a daring as it was dangerous. Some would say the furthest objective, Arnhem Bridge, was a bridge too far.
Separated into two distinct elements, Market, the airborne assault, was designed to capture the vital bridges across the many rivers and canals that were needed. Garden, the ground assault, would ensure the bridges were soon part of a wider Allied salient. However, planning and intelligence was not as thorough as it had been in previous operations and Market, Garden turned from glorious adventure, with easily achievable aims, to almost devastating defeat.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books Ltd. is based in the UK.
This book is of soft-cover of 66 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
It introduces the modeler to the daring operation that was Market Garden.
Aimed at the new or returning modeler, featuring an easy guide to copy building, painting and weathering and detailing techniques to help bring the model to life.
The book features inspirational photographs (36 color ones and 134 black and white ones) 4 maps as well as providing a synopsis of the battle and key personalities. It also features technical and historical details, as well as over-views that show-case model builds of iconic machines that took part. The Triumph HW motorcycle, Cromwell tank, Panther Ausf. G and the Kettenkrad.
The cover art shows 4 British airborne troops defending a ditch as a black and white photo, There is a small black and white photo of British paratroopers coming down over Market Garden.
At the bottom of the cover there is a color side-view illustration of a German Panther tank, that is in a wave pattern camouflage of dark-green and tan with brush piled over the turret.
The back cover shows 2 more black and white photos. One is of a Panther tank in a woods and the other is of 2 British airborne troops in a fox-hole.
Allied and Axis officers and troops are shown, vehicles and cannons.
The modelers section shows the building of the Airfix 1/76th scale British Cromwell IV Tank and the box art. A 1/35th scale Star brand decal sheet of British tank insignia and a conversion set for a Cromwell. The Tamiya brand 1/35th scale Cromwell built up is shown in 11 color photos.
The Takom brand 1/35th scale Panther Ausf. G box art and built up is shown in 13 color photos.
As well as a Dragon brand Kettenkrad 1/35th scale box art and 18 color photos of the model made up.
Finally, the Tamiya 1/35th scale Triumph 3HW motorcycle’s box art is shown and 5 built up photos of it made.
The last page of the book shows 12 small black and white cover arts of other Pen & Sword armor books and a listing of 31 more.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword Books Ltd. and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Pen & Sword Books Ltd. is based in the UK.
This book is of soft-cover of 66 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
It introduces the modeler to the daring operation that was Market Garden.
Aimed at the new or returning modeler, featuring an easy guide to copy building, painting and weathering and detailing techniques to help bring the model to life.
The book features inspirational photographs (36 color ones and 134 black and white ones) 4 maps as well as providing a synopsis of the battle and key personalities. It also features technical and historical details, as well as over-views that show-case model builds of iconic machines that took part. The Triumph HW motorcycle, Cromwell tank, Panther Ausf. G and the Kettenkrad.
The cover art shows 4 British airborne troops defending a ditch as a black and white photo, There is a small black and white photo of British paratroopers coming down over Market Garden.
At the bottom of the cover there is a color side-view illustration of a German Panther tank, that is in a wave pattern camouflage of dark-green and tan with brush piled over the turret.
The back cover shows 2 more black and white photos. One is of a Panther tank in a woods and the other is of 2 British airborne troops in a fox-hole.
Allied and Axis officers and troops are shown, vehicles and cannons.
The modelers section shows the building of the Airfix 1/76th scale British Cromwell IV Tank and the box art. A 1/35th scale Star brand decal sheet of British tank insignia and a conversion set for a Cromwell. The Tamiya brand 1/35th scale Cromwell built up is shown in 11 color photos.
The Takom brand 1/35th scale Panther Ausf. G box art and built up is shown in 13 color photos.
As well as a Dragon brand Kettenkrad 1/35th scale box art and 18 color photos of the model made up.
Finally, the Tamiya 1/35th scale Triumph 3HW motorcycle’s box art is shown and 5 built up photos of it made.
The last page of the book shows 12 small black and white cover arts of other Pen & Sword armor books and a listing of 31 more.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword Books Ltd. and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
This book is aimed at both modelers and military historians, who will enjoy it.