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Ampersand
Publishing has sent us their latest in the series of Allied-Axis books –
these books as are small, inexpensive and filled with walk around and period
photographs of a few different machines which are examined in detail each in
turn. Great for modellers and military machine enthusiasts alike – we get to
check no 28 out – come and have a look…
By David Doyle, Scott Taylor & Jeff Kleinhenz
Publisher: Ampersand Publishing
Paperback: 96 pages with black & white photos
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches (A4 Landscape)
Price: $15.95
The latest in the series of Allied-Axis books has arrived on our desk and we have here a familiar format that most would be used to already – the landscape orientated publication with a soft cover packed with four or five different picture driven walk around and period photograph stories tied together with text to explain and enliven the experience.
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This – number 28 in the series covers a few different
subjects both on the allied and Axis sides of the coin. This issue features
photo stories on the:
SdKfz 6 5-ton halftrack prime mover
3-inch antitank gun M5
U.S. T1/M6 Heavy Tank
Sprengladungsträger (SdKfz 301) Ausf. A and B
Covenanter Heavy Cruiser Tank
The book’s chapters are either captioned or photographs
provided my messirs Doyle, Taylor & Kleinhenz who would be pretty well
known to a few people out there from other publications like the “walk around”
series from Squadron. This book does remind me of those books a little - it is different
however to the “Walkaround” series in that there are fewer pictures but of a
larger size and the action here seems more like an explanation of each type of
the vehicles shown.
The books are not just a walkaround though – they are also a
story of the vehicles development history. Usually we start with the earlier
vehicles in the series and we work through to the later types, along the way
pointing out changes and the idiosyncrasies of each vehicle.
Each section is about twenty pages and the quality of the
paper is of a good glossy quality, the photographs are usually of a legible quality
as well. This book has some great shots of the German prime movers for instance
and some interesting touched up photos of the T1/M6 heavy tank which are just
as interesting. The closes up detailed shots taken in the modern day are
presented in black and white.
Let’s take a look at the sections in turn…
SdKfz 6 5-ton halftrack
prime mover
One of the primary tracked towing vehicles of the Wehrmacht –
these were meant to tow things like anti-aircraft guns into the battlefield. We
are shown the early war variants through the early campaigns in Europe and
places like Greece through to the eastern front in many different conditions
and configurations.
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Interesting to me were the variants with the 37mm cannon on
the rear deck which served as an anti-aircraft platform with considerable success.
We are also explained the differences between the artillery towing vehicle and
the pioneer and troop carrying versions. Particularly impressive are some of
the shots of the vehicle rearing up over embankments – the halftrack looking
like a dinosaur…
3-inch anti-tank gun
M5.
There are lots of good shots of this vehicle in action. Many from the later WWII period showing allied soldiers hustling around this cannon or taking it through mud. There are also some good diorama ideas of these guns covered in natural foliage and camouflage with the surrounding rubble and building parts including louvered doors!
There are lots of good shots of this vehicle in action. Many from the later WWII period showing allied soldiers hustling around this cannon or taking it through mud. There are also some good diorama ideas of these guns covered in natural foliage and camouflage with the surrounding rubble and building parts including louvered doors!
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There are some excellent and very detailed walk around shots
taken here clearly in the modern day which have been transferred to black and
white. These give you a good idea of the smaller parts of the gun especially
around the breech and gun controls. This will be really handy for modellers of
the type.
U.S. T1/M6 Heavy Tank
Right! Now I know why this tank is so hard to take out when I’m
playing “World of Tanks” – the most heavily armed tank at the beginning of WWII
– this large tank was heavily armed with a 76mm and 37mm gun (as well as a
skyward looking AA gun) in the turret and some very thickly armed front and
sides.
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Some very interesting shots of this vehicle with the same
driver at either a proving ground or some promotional event to show the tank
off to the “brass”. There are also some great new walkaround pictures here in
black and white to complement the excellent text which is informative but not
intrusive.
Sprengladungsträger
(SdKfz 301) Ausf. A and B
Built to be loaded up with a large explosive device in a pod
and then driven into a battle area – the explosive device was placed next to an
obstacle or enemy hard point and then remotely detonated by the vehicle
occupants who had retreated to a safe distance. This vehicle is as interesting
as it was thinly armoured and there are some great shots of the AFV in action
and captured variants (complete with the “Keep Clear” exclamation signs as
well)
Some great close ups of captured vehicles show this
halftrack inside and out at close quarters. The vehicle was surprisingly well equipped
and the complete driving compartment with full dials meant that this vehicle wasn’t
a throw away type like the earlier smaller remotely controlled “goliath” There
are some excellent references and text included here in this section.
Covenanter Heavy
Cruiser Tank
Reading the story behind this tank made me really sorry for all
those who had to drive and crew it. Overheating problems, under-gunned and
under-armoured this vehicle was upgraded with no real positive effects I loved
the part in the comments saying how really bad it was!!
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There are some really very good B&W shots of this tank
in action(in the rear) with these tanks being used as opposition vehicles in
training exercises, the tanks on trains being shipped around the United
Kingdom, as well as close ups of the crew compartments and engines.
This book is like a walkaround and vehicle history story all in
one. This makes sense with David Doyle writing or contributing to three of the
four sections, and this isn’t a bad thing. Although this book isn’t a
specialized publication dedicated to one vehicle the twenty or so pages usually
give you a good enough idea of the
structure and details to get a good perspective on the fell an maybe a few
diorama ideas for your model.
If you are a fan of these vehicles than you will get some
good coverage here – well done on a nice addition to the series!
We thank the
excellent people at Ampersand Publishing
for the book.
.bmp)