Book Review of
Panther Medium Tank
IV.S.S.-Panzer Korps, Eastern Front, 1944
Author: Dennis Oliver
Pen & Sword Tank Craft Series
ISBN: 9781526791269
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $24.95
ISBN: 9781526791269
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $24.95
During the summer of 1944, a series of massive Soviet offensives threatened to destroy the entire German army on the Eastern Front. As the Wehrmacht scrambled to hold what ground it could, many formations simply disappeared and the available armored units were used to plug the gaps in the front line.
One of the most important elements of the defense was the newly-raised IV. SS-Panzerkorps which contained the veteran Totenkopf and Wiking divisions. Although both were well equipped, their real striking power lay in the battalion of Pzkpfw. V Panther tanks which each was outfitted, perhaps the most effective armored fighting vehicle produced by Germany during WWII.
In Dennis Oliver’s latest volume in the TankCraft series, he uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Panther battalions of these famous units that fought to hold back the Soviet advance during the last months of 1944.
A key section of his book displays available model kits and after-market 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.
The book is soft-cover of 66 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
It contains 63 black and white photos of Panther’s, 1 map, 4 uniform insignias, 17 color side-profiles and three 2-views and 10 charts in black and white showing unit makeups.
Four Tiger kits are shown built up are:
The Meng Models brand 1/35th scale Panther Ausf. A, built by Kevin Potts, showing 8 color photos of it.
The Dragon Models brand 1/35th scale Panther Ausf. A, built by Theodoros Kalamatas, showing 17 color photos of it.
The ICM brand 1/35th scale Bergepanther Ausf. D (early version), built also by Theodoros Kalamatas, showing 7 color photos of it.
Dragon Models 1/35th scale Panther Ausf. A, built by Stanislav Noskovic, showing 13 color photos of it, including one of the figures included.
These are followed by a listing of many kits of the Panther that exist and also after-market detail sets.
There are pages out of the Panther-Fibel book, German iron cross and 4 uniform insignias.
On the last page of the book there are 12 black and white cover arts of other Pen & Sword books and a listing of 31 more.
This is a neat book on Panthers. It will be of great interest to modelers planning on building one and to military historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword books for this review sample.
All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web-site at:
One of the most important elements of the defense was the newly-raised IV. SS-Panzerkorps which contained the veteran Totenkopf and Wiking divisions. Although both were well equipped, their real striking power lay in the battalion of Pzkpfw. V Panther tanks which each was outfitted, perhaps the most effective armored fighting vehicle produced by Germany during WWII.
In Dennis Oliver’s latest volume in the TankCraft series, he uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Panther battalions of these famous units that fought to hold back the Soviet advance during the last months of 1944.
A key section of his book displays available model kits and after-market 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.
The book is soft-cover of 66 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
It contains 63 black and white photos of Panther’s, 1 map, 4 uniform insignias, 17 color side-profiles and three 2-views and 10 charts in black and white showing unit makeups.
Four Tiger kits are shown built up are:
The Meng Models brand 1/35th scale Panther Ausf. A, built by Kevin Potts, showing 8 color photos of it.
The Dragon Models brand 1/35th scale Panther Ausf. A, built by Theodoros Kalamatas, showing 17 color photos of it.
The ICM brand 1/35th scale Bergepanther Ausf. D (early version), built also by Theodoros Kalamatas, showing 7 color photos of it.
Dragon Models 1/35th scale Panther Ausf. A, built by Stanislav Noskovic, showing 13 color photos of it, including one of the figures included.
These are followed by a listing of many kits of the Panther that exist and also after-market detail sets.
There are pages out of the Panther-Fibel book, German iron cross and 4 uniform insignias.
On the last page of the book there are 12 black and white cover arts of other Pen & Sword books and a listing of 31 more.
This is a neat book on Panthers. It will be of great interest to modelers planning on building one and to military historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword books for this review sample.
All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web-site at:
Highly recommended.