Introduction

The M59 is a heavy towed howitzer from the World War II era with its origins in the United States. Initially developed after World War I as the 155mm Gun M1 due to the limited heavy gun capabilities identified in the U.S., it underwent redesignation as the M59 after World War II. However, it continues to be commonly referred to by its popular nickname, "Long Tom." Functioning as a gun, the M59 was specifically designed for a long-range and flat trajectory, distinguishing it from traditional howitzers that typically have shorter ranges and much higher trajectories.

AFV Club is a well-known plastic model company based in Taiwan that specializes in producing high-quality scale model kits, particularly focusing on armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) and military-related subjects. The company has gained a reputation for its attention to detail, accuracy, and innovative model kits that cater to the needs of both casual model builders and serious hobbyists.

The Model T Ford was one of the most produced vehicles of the pre-WWI and WWI eras. The basic frame was highly adaptable to numerous roles. One of the more important roles was that of ambulances, especially for the war effort. 4,362 Model T ambulances were shipped to Europe, with most serving in France.

This model, in 1/35th scale, is manufactured by ICM and contains 88 parts total, with 9 crystal-clear parts. The parts are crisply molded as well, and I was surprised that the wheels and spokes didn’t have any flash, and the mold lines are straight down the middle of the tires. A word of caution: There are quite a few tiny parts in this kit that can easily be eaten by the notorious Carpet Monster!

The book covers the history of the SS Panzer Battalion 501 in the Battle of The Bulge (Ardennes for the Germans). The book is divided into 5 chapters with an Introduction, Conclusion, Notes and Bibliography at the end of the book. Each chapter in turn is divided into individual sections dealing with specific points. The book contains a total of 169 pages, 191 black and white photos, 7 maps and 1 order of battle table. The unit was attached to the 1st. SS Panzer Division Liebstandart Adolph Hitler (LSSAH) another unit of was the 12th. Panzer Division. The goal of the unit was to reach the port of Antwerp and thus divide the Allied units in two. The unit personnel were very experienced. One of the biggest problems the unit had was the great deal of maintenance and mechanical problems that plagued the unit.

Right up to the mid-1940s, armored trains played the role of self-propelled artillery, often in a highly mobile environment. They were equipped with infantry and light tanks, that could be deployed for reconnaissance and harassment of enemy units. They rarely operated alone, often there were supply trains and other support units making runs to keep the armored train unit ready for combat.

This review covers the 2nd Volume of the “Polish Armored Trains 1921-1939” by Adam Jonca. This volume is focused on the “1st Armored Train Group” as such, all their trains started with a number “1”.

The book has a chapter devoted to the peace-time bases and further split into chapters devoted to Train 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and a special Independent Draisine Platoon attached to the 1st Armored Group.

According to Tank Encylopedia’s ‘The Online Tank Museum’ -

In the late 1940s, the British War Office (WO) was concerned that – after the debut of the IS-3 in 1945 – the Soviet Union would continue to develop heavily armored tanks. As such, the War Office filed a requirement for the development of a gun capable of defeating a 60-degree sloped plate, 6 inches (152 mm) thick, at up to 2,000 yards (1,830 meters), and a suitable vehicle to carry it.

This requirement led to the development of the ‘Ordnance, Quick-Firing, 183 mm, Tank, L4 Gun’, the largest purpose-built anti-tank gun to have ever been created. It was intended that this gun would be mounted on a new ‘Heavy Gun Tank’ based on the FV200 series chassis. This was designated the ‘Tank, Heavy No. 2, 183 mm Gun, FV215’.