In my last review concerning this interesting French vehicle, I described how the prototype was developed in 1938 with some of the most advanced mechanical technology of the day. The distinctive look of the machine is based on a double set of “bumper” wheels placed both in the center and the front of the chassis, designed to make the vehicle far more capable in an off-road capacity. Overall, only about 200 of these vehicles were manufactured before the fall of France, with most of them never seeing combat. Those that survived were largely converted by the occupying German forces into utility and radio cars for the Wehrmacht.

The original kit consisted of 6 sprues of well-detailed parts as well as vinyl main wheels. This iteration includes an additional small sprue which contains a machine gun pintle, two different versions of the Hotchkiss machine gun dating back to World War One, and a single box of additional ammunition.

The A34 Comet was a late-war addition to Britain’s armored arsenal of cruiser tanks. With a borrowed chassis from the Cromwell, the larger turret ring allowed for a more compact effective gun in the Q.F. 77mm. Exclusively welded, the larger turret had frontal armor up to 100mm. The heavier design led to the need to update the Christie suspension which was refitted with upper return rollers. Many were outfitted with the Normandy cowling over the rear grill to help cut down on exhaust gases affecting the crew and passengers.

Background

This Casemate Illustrated Special Series is the sixth issue in the series. Other books cover ambulances and medical vehicles of WWII, Chevrolet Trucks of WWII, U.S. Army vehicle markings 1944, and U.S. Army Signal Corps vehicles 1941-45.

From Review Insert

Between 1940 and 1945, Diamond T Motor Car Company supplied just over 50,000 vehicles to the US military, and also to the Allies. Of this, just over 30,000 were heavy 4-ton 6x6 trucks of varying types: cargo, tow truck, pontoon carrier, engineer, cartographic, etc. The “Diamond” would serve in all theaters of operations, wherever its robustness and reliability were necessary to complete the mission. Due to its expertise, Diamond T also produced the famous half-track, with more than 10,000 manufactured. All of these models are described in this work by Didier Andres, an expert in the subject. The text is illustrated throughout using archival and period photographs and diagrams.

For modelers, in the one true scale (1/144), Brengun has added an especially useful photo-etched set of WWII armor tools to their catalog. Associated with the U.S., that label shouldn't prohibit anyone for using them in any setting where appropriate.

The small, metal sprue contains four examples each of the following:

• shovel
• starter crank
• pickax handle
• pickax head
• sledgehammer
• axe
• hex wrench
• two styles of pry bar.

Quite the variety. The choice by Brengun to 'etch' the pick as two parts is a bit curious. Maybe a test of ones skill level? Then again, spares were sometimes stowed separately. Owing to the diminutive size of these tools, removing the parts from their attachment points may be problematic. Caution and a new hobby knife blade are recommended.

The book presents Operation Zitadelle-Operation Citadel- from the German side. This was the German offensive operation in July 1943 against the Soviet forces in the Kursk salient during World War II in the Eastern Front. This operation basically started the Battle of Kursk. It is considered as the biggest tank battle that has ever taken place.