Andy Taylor
Reviews By Author
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Hungarian Arms and Armor in World War TwoPublished:
Hungary found itself on the losing side of World War I and the Treaty of Trianon was similar to the Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany. As a result, Hungary was partitioned (see map on page 5) and reduced from 282,000 square kilometers to 93,000 square kilometers and its population from 18 million to 9.5 million people, absorbed by foreign countries hostile to Hungary; Hungary’s industrial base was reduced by almost 80%, and its military was limited in size and scope. Hungary’s involvement in World War II was seen through the lens of regaining their lost territories from Slovakia, Romania, Austria, and Yugoslavia. When political methods didn’t work, Hungary’s limited military did what it could, but soon found itself allied with Germany to achieve its aims. This amazingly… more |
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Burma Victory 1944-1945Published:
The book’s title, Burma Victory 1944-1945, is a little misleading as the first, very detailed chapter delves into the Japanese blitzkrieg beginning in December 1941 through 1942. The Japanese victories in China, the Dutch East Indies, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaya and the Philippines set the stage for this book on a long forgotten and neglected theater of World War II. The author does an amazing job describing the harsh, varied terrain, weather and combatants and how the Allies regrouped and learned to fight the previously invincible Japanese military as they made their furthest incursion west. American General Joseph “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell assembled an ad-hoc force of Unit Galahad (Merrill’s Marauders named after their commander Frank Merrill was officially named the 5307th… more |
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Panther Medium Tank German Army and Waffen-SS Eastern Front, Summer 1943Published:
The Panzerkampfwagen V (abbreviated PzKpfw V), also referred as the Sd.Kfz. 171, was better known as the Panther. TankCraft 34, Panther Medium Tank, German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign, Summer 1943, although the fifth book on the Panther in the TankCraft series, introduces the famed tank with its combat debut in Operation Citadel in July 1943. The Panther tank was developed to counter the Russian T-34 and KV series tanks encountered during the invasion of Russia in 1941. The Table of Contents (see accompanying photo) lays out the book in a logical manner with a truncated introduction of the Panther, then its combat baptism of fire during the Battle of Kursk, Panther units, camouflage and markings, and in a trend in this series, the Model Showcase and Products (pp27-48)… more |
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The Paras in Iraq, Operation Telic 1Published:
As a former paratrooper and combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I was eager to read and review The Paras in Iraq, Operation Telic 1 by Craig Allen. The title of the book is self-explanatory and replete with fantastic photos of first and third battalions of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment in action; first in staging areas in Kuwait, then their move into Basrah and further operations in Baghdad. Knowing a rudimentary history of the British Paras and UK forces in Iraq, I was ready to jump (pun intended) into the book. I was not disappointed. The author, Craig Allen, writes with the no-nonsense prose of a professional who has seen the elephant of combat. Craig’s true strength is his photography, and it shows in the 128 pages of his book, with only three pages not… more |
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Japanese Infantry WWII, Figures Set Acrylic PaintPublished:
A new, welcome release from prolific AMMO by Mig Jimenez, is this four-color acrylic paint set labelled for World War II Japanese Infantry. The paint comes in 17ml plastic bottles, complete with a stirring ball, in a clear plastic clamshell box. Also included is a color two-sided label with a very well painted World War II Japanese soldier with color callouts for the paints provided. While the paints can be procured individually, the four major colors are included (and most likely cheaper than buying them individually). The following paints are included:
Fortunately, I had a World War II Japanese armor crew ready for paint. A… more |
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Panzer IV, Medium Tank German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign, Summer 1944Published:
The Panzerkampfwagen IV (appropriately truncated to Pz.Kpfw. IV, Sonderkraftfarhrzeug 161, Sd.Kfz 161, or even better, the Panzer IV) was developed in 1937 with the Panzer IV Ausfuhrung (ausf) A, and was the most numerous produced tank in the German Army and Waffen SS in World War II. The Panzer IV had the ability to be upgunned and uparmored, allowing it to serve on equal terms with American and British tanks through the German surrender with the Panzer IV ausf J. After the war, Panzers continued to soldier on through at least the 1967 Six Day War, but that is a story for another review. TankCraft 35, Panzer IV, Medium Tank, German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign, Summer 1944, (… more |
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M60 Main Battle Tank – America’s Cold War Warrior 1959-1997Published:
The ubiquitous M60 Main Battle Tank (MBT) is the second generation of American MBTs and the fourth to carry the Patton name (following the M46, M47 and M48 series). During my time in the Army, beginning in the mid-1990s in Germany, the M1 Abrams was in its ascendency, fresh from its victories in Operation Desert Storm. I never paid much attention to the M60 other than remembering how tall and old they looked in comparison to the Army’s new MBT. TankCraft 37, M60 Main Battle Tank, America’s Cold War Warrior 1959-1997, (https://penandswordbooks.com/subject-categories/reference/m60.html) dramatically changed that perception of an old tank. Instead, the long, distinguished career of the M60 MBT is… more |
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FCM 36 French Light Tank in German ServicePublished:
If you are a fan of obscure World War II armor, especially light tanks that were in numbers large enough to only fill two French tank battalions at the outbreak of war, then you are in luck. Furthermore, if you enjoy beutepanzers (German for “captured tanks”), then this is a kit for you. If you are running out of display space, then this model is for you. The FCM 36 or Char léger Modèle 1936 FCM, was a pre-World War II French light infantry tank with a crew of two and was equipped with a 37 mm main gun with a 7.5mm coaxial machine gun. At the outbreak of the Invasion of France, 90 FCM 36 tanks were available in two battalions of 45 each. The German Wehrmacht captured about 50 of this series; 12 were rebuilt in 1942 as self-propelled artillery, and in 1943, ten were rebuilt as… more |
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History of the 40/43M ZrÍnyi Assault HowitzerPublished:
While Kagero has an established reputation for quality books that modelers appreciate and use on their reference shelves, they have recently upped their game with the new introduction of the inCombat series. Number 08 in the series is History of the 40/43M ZrÍnyi Assault Howitzer. As a fan of obscure armored vehicles, this book had a timely arrival, especially as I am in the process of painting Bronco Models’ Hungarian 44.M ‘Zrinyi’ I 75mm Assault Gun (the differences between the variants are clearly spelled out in this detailed book). Kagero Publishing is a well-known Polish company that provides detailed photographs and color profiles of its subject matter. While I can’t speak to what makes its inCombat series different from its others, I am thoroughly impressed. While the… more |