Andy Taylor
Reviews By Author
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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 |