TankCraft 44, StuG III Assault Gun – German Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe Units, Eastern Front, 1944 breaks the StuG III’s (Sturmgeschütz, abbreviated as StuG, also known as the Sonderkraftfahrzeug 161) long service life into the closing struggles in the Eastern Front in 1944. Older and newer StuG IIIs and IVs fought side by side on all fronts as the Allied ring closed in on Germany. This book focuses on the StuG IIIs on the Eastern Front, which is fantastic as it complements an already published book of StuGs on the Western Front (TankCraft 19: StuG III & IV, German Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe, Western Front 1944-1945) and hints at a StuG IV book.

This 64-page book is outlined in the familiar TankCraft format and is loaded with incredible black and white photographs, color illustrations, supporting text and detailed captions, modeling references and a bibliography in the following chapters:

Perhaps one of the prettiest jet fighters, the Hawker Hunter was an inspired piece of design by the famed British designer, Sir Sidney Camm, also known for the Hurricane and Harrier. The Hunter was so good that it operated for over 40 years in British service, and this book illustrates that service life through the medium of renowned aircraft illustrator, Richard Caruana of Malta.

Caruana has been painting aircraft profiles for over 50 years now, and I remember some of his first work in locally produced booklets on the Battle of Malta. These were on sale in Matla’s aviation museum, and my parents bought them for me during their visit there in the early 80s! He helped create the short-lived Modelaid magazine in the mid-80s, but in more recent times, he is better known for his work in various modeling magazines, such as Scale Aviation Modeller International and Model Airplane International, and is the author of numerous books.

Concrete anti-tank obstacles, also known as ‘Dragon’s Teeth’, were first used during World War II. They are believed to have been invented in Finland as a means of defense against the armored vehicles of the Red Army. The purpose of these obstacles was not only to stop tanks and other armored vehicles but also to direct their movement into areas where they could be targeted by fire. These types of obstacles were widely used by all participants in the conflict, including neutral countries. For example, Switzerland also used similar obstacles, referring to them as Toblerone fortifications, due to their resemblance to the shape of the famous chocolate bars.