MARCUS COWPER & CHRISTOPHER PANNELL
Introduction
The Mark I
The Mark IV
The A7V
The Mark V
The Panzer III
The Matilda Infantry Tank
The M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank
The Panzer IV
The Crusader Cruiser Tank
The T-34/76
The M4 Sherman
The Panther Medium Tank
The Tiger I Heavy Tank
The Sherman Firefly
The T-34/85
The Churchill Infantry Tank
The KV-l Heavy Tank
The Churchill Crocodile Flamethrower Tank
The King Tiger Heavy Tank
The Cromwell Cruiser Tank
The M48 Patton
The Sherman DD Amphibious Tank
The M24 Chaffee Light Tank
The M3 and M5 Stuart Light Tank
The Centurion Universal Tank
This new small format book from Osprey is, I think, what would be described as a 'primer'. It is aimed at the beginners interest in tanks and has been produced with the Tank Museum at Bovington quite clearly in mind.
Following a brief introduction from David Fletcher, a long time member of the Tank Museum staff, there are some 40 basic tank types covered. These range from the WW1 British Marks I, IV and V as well as the German A7V. Then a section on WWII types, including the different German Panzers, British Infantry tanks such as Matilda and Churchill, as well as Cruisers such as Crusader and Cromwell. Naturally types like the T34/76 and /85 as well as the Sherman are included, along with KV1, US M24 and M3/M5 Light tanks and more.
For the post-war period we get to Centurion, Chieftain, Challenger I & II along with Israeli Merkava, Russian T55, T62, T72 and T80, along with Pershing, M48, M60 and M1 Abrams.
All entries give some background notes, including recognition features, plus one or two of the colour profiles which Osprey always do so well. Tables of specifications on each entry give details for things like the number of crew, weight, basic dimensions, armament, engine, fuel capacity, range, ground pressure and the like.
This is probably a bit basic for the experienced tank enthusiast/modellers, but ideal for the beginner. If you are taking someone who knows little about tanks to the Tank Museum or Duxford, maybe your children, then this would be a good present to help them learn about what they are going to see. It might be turned into a challenge to see how many they can see during their visit, or to go and search out a particular one. With the attractive colour artwork, maybe it might encourage them to want to have a go at a model, to make their own tank, and thus help encourage them into the modelling hobby as well. Maybe they will identify machines they have 'used' in their computer games and discover they are real and not just images on the screen.
Overall, a good basic introduction for starters. If you have had a long time interest in tanks it may be a bit basic, but don't overlook the potential to help others understand the subject better.
