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) break up the book before delving back into technical details and modifications, unit tables of organization and an extensive bibliography.

For modelers, there are ten pages of color profiles highlighting 16 Panthers, and a page of four turrets with markings for Panzer-Abteilung 51. There are 15 pages of models covering four beautifully built models and seven pages of covering model manufactures that produce Panther kits; a total of 32 pages, half the book. The rest of the book has 100 black and white period photographs, primarily from German lenses. The Technical Details and Modifications section provides details for the initial Panther D models. It was the lessons learned from these initial models that led to improvements in the A and G variants, subjects of the other four Panther books in this series.

This book is a great easy-to-read introduction to the Panther D Medium Tank. With its color profiles, model showcase, references, and callouts, all the details are there for a great model. The author chose great photographs that show crews interacting with their tanks and provide a plethora of ideas and inspirations for models, vignettes and dioramas. I may be one of the few armor modelers who has not built a Panther tank. Thanks to Panther Medium Tank, German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign, Summer 1943, my shortcoming will soon be remedied.

Profuse thanks to Casemate and IPMS-USA for providing the review sample.