Book Review of
Panzerwaffe on the Battlefield 4
World War Two Photobook Series
Author: John Feenstra
Peko Publishing
ISBN: 978-615-6692-22-0
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1023
MSRP: $42.95
ISBN: 978-615-6692-22-0
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1023
MSRP: $42.95
HISTORY:
The Panzerwaffe could be considered the elite of the Wehrmacht Heer and throughout World War II it continually proved itself in combat , many times facing far larger enemy forces with better equipment and still managing to defeat and rout them through superior training, tactics, and many times simply with sheer bravado.
To meet the needs of armored and motorized troops, the Heereswaffenamt and its agencies were constantly developing and putting into production new and varied armored vehicles to help gain superiority on the battlefield. The number of different types of armored vehicles fielded by the various arms of the Panzerwaffe – tank, anti-tank, self-propelled artillery, infantry support. Anti-aircraft, reconnaissance, and transport – is staggering to say the least and may very well exceed the different types used by the Allied forces combined.
When tanks became obsolete, the chassis were utilized for support weapons. When new threats appeared, such as the Luftwaffe losing dominance in the air, appropriate weapons were developed. When an abundance of enemy vehicles were captured, they were put to good use to make up for shortfalls.
The Panzerwaffe could be considered the elite of the Wehrmacht Heer and throughout World War II it continually proved itself in combat , many times facing far larger enemy forces with better equipment and still managing to defeat and rout them through superior training, tactics, and many times simply with sheer bravado.
To meet the needs of armored and motorized troops, the Heereswaffenamt and its agencies were constantly developing and putting into production new and varied armored vehicles to help gain superiority on the battlefield. The number of different types of armored vehicles fielded by the various arms of the Panzerwaffe – tank, anti-tank, self-propelled artillery, infantry support. Anti-aircraft, reconnaissance, and transport – is staggering to say the least and may very well exceed the different types used by the Allied forces combined.
When tanks became obsolete, the chassis were utilized for support weapons. When new threats appeared, such as the Luftwaffe losing dominance in the air, appropriate weapons were developed. When an abundance of enemy vehicles were captured, they were put to good use to make up for shortfalls.
THE BOOK:
This book is hard-bound and shrink-wrapped in clear plastic sheet. It contains 114 pages (4 pages are blank). In 8 ¼”x 11 ½” page format, with 101 black and white wartime photographs (including the covers).
The front cover shows a black and white photo of Jagdtiger “234” showing the dislodged engine deck due to the crew’s demolition charges. The 2B11 is a 120 mm mortar developed by the Soviet Union in 1981 and subsequently fielded in the Soviet Army. The basic design for the 2B11 was taken from the classic Model 1943 120 mm mortar, and incorporated changes to make the mortar less heavy. It is a part of the 2S12 Sani. It is being supplemented in Russia by the new 2B24 82mm mortar.
The 2B11 has proliferated to other countries primarily as result of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Visible is the Flieger Drehstütze 36 (monopod AA stand) on the engine access hatch for mounting a MG42, although the top attachment bracket is missing. Also missing are all the tools, other than the engine starting crank. Until many a Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 Jagdtigers, this one does not have any camouflage applied and is painted RAL 7028 Dunklegelb..
The back cover shows a black and white wartime photo of a group of commanders reviewing their maps in front of a Pz.Bef.Wg. Panther, in this case an Ausf. G. It has all three antennas mounted, although the turret one is in the proper base. The turret appears to have “Pilze” sockets for the 2-ton Behelfskran (jib-boom) but has a field fabricated mantlet debris guard , so this vehicle was manufactured in late May or early June 1944.
The field fabricated ladder that hooks into the spare track links is also of interest. “101” could be in white or yellow an identifies this as the commander’s tank for the Abteilung of a panzer regiment. In the background is a Type 166 Schwimmwagen.
This book is hard-bound and shrink-wrapped in clear plastic sheet. It contains 114 pages (4 pages are blank). In 8 ¼”x 11 ½” page format, with 101 black and white wartime photographs (including the covers).
The front cover shows a black and white photo of Jagdtiger “234” showing the dislodged engine deck due to the crew’s demolition charges. The 2B11 is a 120 mm mortar developed by the Soviet Union in 1981 and subsequently fielded in the Soviet Army. The basic design for the 2B11 was taken from the classic Model 1943 120 mm mortar, and incorporated changes to make the mortar less heavy. It is a part of the 2S12 Sani. It is being supplemented in Russia by the new 2B24 82mm mortar.
The 2B11 has proliferated to other countries primarily as result of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Visible is the Flieger Drehstütze 36 (monopod AA stand) on the engine access hatch for mounting a MG42, although the top attachment bracket is missing. Also missing are all the tools, other than the engine starting crank. Until many a Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 Jagdtigers, this one does not have any camouflage applied and is painted RAL 7028 Dunklegelb..
The back cover shows a black and white wartime photo of a group of commanders reviewing their maps in front of a Pz.Bef.Wg. Panther, in this case an Ausf. G. It has all three antennas mounted, although the turret one is in the proper base. The turret appears to have “Pilze” sockets for the 2-ton Behelfskran (jib-boom) but has a field fabricated mantlet debris guard , so this vehicle was manufactured in late May or early June 1944.
The field fabricated ladder that hooks into the spare track links is also of interest. “101” could be in white or yellow an identifies this as the commander’s tank for the Abteilung of a panzer regiment. In the background is a Type 166 Schwimmwagen.
Vehicles shown in the book are:
Panzer 1 and 2’s and variants, Marder II, Pz.Kpfw. IV Jagdpanzer- Sturmgeschutz in different Ausf, three that are destroyed and one shown damaged, Pz.Kpfw. III, Stug III, a truck ambulance, a Hornisse (later named Nashorn), a Hummel, a Flakpanzer IV, a Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. A (one destroyed) an Ausf. G and a commander’s tank, a Tiger I (one abandoned) and a command one, a Panzerjager Tiger Ausf. B, a captured Czech Pz.Kpfw..38(t), a Hetzer, a captured French Renault R-35, a Panzerwerfer 42, a Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf, C & 252 munition schleppers, a 8.8cm Flak gun, a Sd.Kfz. 232, a Citroen ambulance and a burned up Horch 901 car.
This book will be of great interest to modelers and military historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample.
Casemate is the N. American distributor of Peko books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Panzer 1 and 2’s and variants, Marder II, Pz.Kpfw. IV Jagdpanzer- Sturmgeschutz in different Ausf, three that are destroyed and one shown damaged, Pz.Kpfw. III, Stug III, a truck ambulance, a Hornisse (later named Nashorn), a Hummel, a Flakpanzer IV, a Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. A (one destroyed) an Ausf. G and a commander’s tank, a Tiger I (one abandoned) and a command one, a Panzerjager Tiger Ausf. B, a captured Czech Pz.Kpfw..38(t), a Hetzer, a captured French Renault R-35, a Panzerwerfer 42, a Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf, C & 252 munition schleppers, a 8.8cm Flak gun, a Sd.Kfz. 232, a Citroen ambulance and a burned up Horch 901 car.
This book will be of great interest to modelers and military historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample.
Casemate is the N. American distributor of Peko books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.