M1 Abrams
The US's Main Battle Tank in American and Foreign Service, 1981–2019
Part of the TankCraft series
A history of the iconic vehicle: "This modeler's delight showcases the M1 and its variations with all sorts of camouflage schemes." -Historical Miniatures Gaming Society
Since its introduction in 1981, at the height of the Cold War, the Abrams main battle tank has been one of the most visible symbols of American military power, and it is the fascinating subject of this heavily illustrated historical and modeling guide in the TankCraft series by David Grummitt. Designed to meet head-on the massed tank forces of the Warsaw Pact, its combat debut actually came in a different scenario in 1991, during the First Gulf War. Since then it has served in a peacekeeping role in the former Yugoslavia and seen combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen. It has gone through a series of modifications and modernizations that see it set to remain the backbone of the US Army until at least 2050.
As well as charting the development and combat history of the vehicle, this book is illustrated throughout with color photos and specially commissioned color profiles. Five different models, covering the service history of the Abrams, are featured, as is a modeler's guide to the existing kits and accessories in the all the popular scales.
T-34
Part of the TankCraft series
Von Kleist, one of Hitlers best panzer leaders, described the T-34 as The finest tank in the world. There could have been no finer accolade from a commander whose panzer divisions experienced the full fury of its devastating attacks on the Eastern Front. Without doubt, the T-34 was one of the best tanks of all time, and in this volume in the TankCraft series Robert Jackson tells its story. He describes its conception in the 1930s, its development during the Second World War, and its postwar deployment to over thirty countries within the Soviet sphere of influence.
His book is an excellent reference work for the modeler, providing details of available kits, together with artworks showing the color schemes applied to the T-34 by its operators throughout the world. Photographs, many in color, illustrate the T-34 in action and there is a section dealing with the range of armored vehicles that were built using the T-34 chassis.
Robert Jackson's introduction to the T-34 is necessary reading for tank enthusiasts and tank modelers alike.
M60 Main Battle Tank
America's Cold War Warrior 1959–1997
Part of the TankCraft series
The M60 was a second-generation American main battle tank, the last in the line of Patton tanks that had first been developed at the end of World War II. It entered operational service with the US Army in 1960 and some 15,000 M60s were manufactured by Chrysler at the Detroit Tank Arsenal Plant between then and when production ceased in 1983. It served with both the US Army and the US Marine Corps and was the principal tank deployed in Europe in the 'sixties, 'seventies and early 'eighties, providing NATO's main armored force at the height of the Cold War. It became one of the most widely used armored fighting vehicles of the twentieth century, serving in the armies of over 25 countries. It continued to serve alongside the M1 Abrams into the 1990s before this venerable Cold War warrior was finally retired from active service with the US military in 1997. This volume charts the development of the M60 from its origins in World War II to the Cold War. It focuses on its service with the US military and other NATO armies, examining its combat service in the First Gulf War and also with other armies in the Middle East. The book gives a full account of the wide range of kits and accessories available in all the popular scales and a modeling gallery features builds covering a range of M60s in service with various armed forces. Detailed color profiles provide both reference and inspiration for modelers and military enthusiasts alike.
Scorpion and Scimitar
British Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicles, 1970–2022
Part of the TankCraft series
The British Scorpion and Scimitar are among the most successful armored reconnaissance vehicles ever built and, almost fifty years after the initial design was introduced, updated versions are still in service today. These compact, maneuverable and fast-moving light tanks played a significant peace-keeping role in conflict zones around the world and went into action during wars in the Falklands, the Gulf and Iraq. They are also a popular subject with tank modelers and enthusiasts which is why David Grummitt's expert history and guide is such a valuable source of reference. As well as describing in detail their technical development and operational history, he gives a full account of the wide range of modeling kits and accessories available in all the popular scales. Included is a modeling gallery which features six builds covering a range of Scorpions and Scimitars serving with different nations and a section of large-scale color profiles which provide both information and inspiration for modelers and military enthusiasts alike.
T-54/55
The Most-Produced Tank in Military History
Part of the TankCraft series
During the Cold War, the T-54/55 series of tanks represented the most serious threat to Nato land forces in Europe. Available in huge quantities, it formed the core of the Warsaw Pact armored warfare doctrine, which envisaged massed tank attacks against the weakest point in Nato's front-line defenses. Yet the T-54/55 could be stopped by smaller numbers of tanks, which had the benefit of better technology and training, as was demonstrated during the Yom Kippur War of 1973 when Israeli tanks dealt out appalling punishment to T-55s of the Syrian army. Despite these limitations, the T-54/55 was one of the most successful tanks ever produced, and this volume in the TankCraft series by Robert Jackson is the ideal introduction to it. As well as tracing the history of the T-54/55, his book is an excellent source of reference for the modeler, providing details of available kits and photographs of award-winning models, together with artworks showing the color schemes applied to these tanks. Each section of the book is supported by a wealth of archive photographs.
Tiger I, German Army Heavy Tank
Eastern Front, 1942
Part of the TankCraft series
This illustrated guide examines the famous WWII German tank and its operations in the Eastern Front, with extensive resources for modeling enthusiasts.
The Tiger I tank might have been a break-through-and even war-winning-weapon if Germany had produced it in sufficient numbers and introduced it earlier on the Eastern Front. Instead, the Tiger played a mainly defensive role as the Wehrmacht struggled to withstand the advances of the Red Army. In his third book on the Tiger in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver focuses on this fascinating period in the tank's short history.
Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the tanks and units of the German army's heavy panzer battalions. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales.
Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the Tigers of 1943.
Hetzer - Jagdpanzer 38 Tank Destroyer
German Army and Waffen-SS Western Front, 1944–1945
Part of the TankCraft series
By 1944 the German army was on the defensive on all fronts and Allied bombing was putting increasing pressure on the nation's industrial output. Since the earliest days of the war the Germans had experimented with mounting anti-tank weapons on obsolete chassis and one of the most successful of these would prove to be the Jagdpanzer 38, more often referred to today as the Hetzer. Small and unimposing the Hetzer's appearance belied its effectiveness. Armed with the powerful 7.5cm L/48 gun, the same weapon fitted to the Jadgpanzer IV, the Hetzer featured armour sloped armour plates of up to 60mm thickness and was capable of a top speed of 42 kilometres per hour. Almost 3,000 examples were assembled and its low cost and ease of production meant that it was Germany's most important tank killer of the late war period. In his latest book in the TankCraft series Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Hetzer tank destroyers and the units of the German Army and Waffen-SS that operated them during the last months of the Second World war. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.
Jagdpanzer IV - German Army and Waffen-SS Tank Destroyers
Western Front, 1944–1945
Part of the TankCraft series
Combining the destructive firepower of the 75mm gun with the mobility of the Pzkpfw IV medium tank, the Jagdpanzer IV was quite possibly the most effective tank destroyer of the Second World War. From early 1944 these vehicles were allocated to the anti-tank battalions of Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions and saw action in Normandy, the Ardennes and the final battles in Germany.
In his latest book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses contemporary photographs and meticulously researched, superbly presented color and monochrome illustrations to tell the story of these self-propelled anti-tank guns and the units which operated them in the German defense of the Western Front. As with all the books in the TankCraft series, a large part of this work showcases available model kits and after-market products, complemented by a gallery of expertly constructed and painted models. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also explained giving the modeler all the information and knowledge required.
Panzer III-German Army Light Tank
Operation Barbarossa 1941
Part of the TankCraft series
The Pzkpfw III tank was the mainstay of the Panzer divisions during the Blitzkrieg era, which could fairly be said to have ended with the Germans' failure to take Moscow in the winter of 1941. Although less heavily armored than many of its opponents and somewhat outgunned by the latest Soviet types, the Pzkpfw III was at the forefront of the advances made over almost impossible distances during the summer and autumn and provided the core of the armored reserve that fought the defensive battles of the winter months.
In Dennis Oliver's latest volume in the TankCraft series he uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Pzkpfw III and the units that operated this deservedly famous armored vehicle along a 1,000-mile front during the battles of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. A key section of his book displays available model kits and after-market products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales.
Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.
Challenger 1
British Main Battle Tank of the Gulf War
Part of the TankCraft series
An in-depth look at this sophisticated armored vehicle with photos, technical details, and modeling information.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Challenger 1 main battle tank played a central role in Britain's armored forces and achieved remarkable success in combat, destroying around 300 Iraqi tanks in the Gulf War. With its advanced Chobham armor and hydropneumatic suspension system, it was one of the most sophisticated and effective armored vehicles of the time and, in a modified form, it is still in service with the Jordanian army. It is also a popular subject with tank modelers and enthusiasts.
Archive photos of the Challenger 1 in service and extensively researched color profile illustrations depict the tank throughout its operational life. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, and provide everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the Challenger 1.
Leopard 2
NATO's First Line of Defence, 1979–2020
Part of the TankCraft series
When the Leopard 2, a third-generation main battle tank, first entered service with the Bundeswehr in 1979, at the height of the Cold War, it was indisputably the most advanced and potent tank in the world. Over four decades it has undergone numerous upgrades and modifications to ensure it remains one of the most powerful tanks operating today. It currently serves with the armies of seventeen nations, from Canada to Turkey and many European states.
The Leopard 2 is also a popular subject for modelers, which is why David Grummitt's highly illustrated expert guide is so valuable. As well as describing in detail the Leopard 2's design, development, and combat history, he gives a full account of the wide range of modeling kits and accessories available in all the popular scales. Included is a modeling gallery, which features six builds covering a range of Leopard 2s serving with different nations and a section of large-scale color profiles which provide both reference and inspiration for modelers and military enthusiasts alike.
Tiger I & Tiger II Tanks
German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign 1944
Part of the TankCraft series
By the first weeks of 1945, the Eastern Front had been pushed back to the Carpathian mountain passes in the south and Warsaw on the Vistula River in the center, while in the north, the German army was fighting in East Prussia. The Wehrmacht's armored and mobile formations were now employed exclusively as fire brigades, rushed from one crisis to the next as the Red Army pushed inexorably westward. Critical to the German defense were the army's heavy Panzer battalions, whose Tiger tanks, with their 8.8 cm guns, were almost invincible on the open plains of central Europe.
In his latest book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy Panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Soviet armor during the last days of the conflict that culminated in the battle for Berlin. A key section of this book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to create an accurate representation of these historic tanks.
Panther German Army Medium Tank
Italian Front, 1944–1945
Part of the TankCraft series
The Allied invasions of Sicily and the Italian mainland had been met with tenacious resistance by the Germans but the defense consisted for the most part of armored units that were little different to those the British had faced in North Africa. But in early 1944, with the landings at Anzio and Nettuno and the attempt to bypass the German defensive line, the Wehrmacht's high command began shipping heavier and more powerful tanks to the Southern Front including an increasing number Tigers and Panthers. The initial models of the latter had gone into combat for the first time in July 1943 and it was planned that every Panzer regiment would eventually contain a battalion of these impressive vehicles. Drawing on official documentation and unit histories Dennis Oliver investigates the formations that operated these deservedly famous vehicles and uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the markings, camouflage and technical aspects of the Pzkpfw V tanks that wee an integral part of the German defense of the Italian peninsula. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic vehicles.
Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks
German Army and Waffen-SS The Last Battles in the East, 1945
Part of the TankCraft series
By the first weeks of 1945, the Eastern Front had been pushed back to the Carpathian mountain passes in the south and Warsaw on the Vistula River in the center, while in the north, the German army was fighting in East Prussia. The Wehrmacht's armored and mobile formations were now employed exclusively as fire brigades, rushed from one crisis to the next as the Red Army pushed inexorably westward. Critical to the German defense were the army's heavy Panzer battalions whose Tiger tanks, with their 8.8 cm guns, were almost invincible on the open plains of central Europe. In his latest book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy Panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Soviet armor during the last days of the conflict which culminated in the battle for Berlin. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.
Panther Medium Tank
IV. SS-Panzerkorps Eastern Front, 1944
Part of the TankCraft series
This fully illustrated modeling guide offers in-depth information on the German Panther tanks battalions that fought Russia in 1944.
In the summer of 1944, overwhelming Soviet offensives threatened to destroy the entire German army on the Eastern Front. As the Wehrmacht scrambled to hold its ground, the newly raised IV SS-Panzerkorps-with its battalions of Pzkpfw V Panther tanks-was critical to the defense. The Panthers were perhaps the most effective armored fighting vehicle produced by Germany during the Second World War.
In this volume of the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Panther battalions that fought to hold back the Soviet advance. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.
Chieftain
British Cold War Main Battle Tank
Part of the TankCraft series
The British Chieftain -designed in the late 1950s as the replacement for the Centurion -was perhaps the best main battle tank in service with Nato during the 1960s and 1970s. Its 120mm rifled main gun and advanced armor made it one of the most formidable tanks of its time, and Robert Jackson's book is an authoritative introduction to it. Although it was intended to fight Soviet armor on the plains of northern Germany, it was in the heat and sand of the Middle East that the Chieftain fought its major battles during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, and it proved to be very effective during the Gulf War of 1991. Variants of the Chieftain were exported to Iran, Oman, India, Kenya and Nigeria, and its chassis was adapted to fulfill a variety of tasks, including armored recovery and bridge-laying As well as tracing the history of the Chieftain, Robert Jackson's work provides an excellent source of reference for the modeler, providing details of available kits and photographs of award-winning models, together with artworks showing the color schemes applied to these tanks. Each section of the book is supported by a wealth of archive photographs.
Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks
German Army and Waffen-SS, The Last Battles in the West, 1945
Part of the TankCraft series
Tiger tanks were among the most-feared fighting vehicles of the Second World War and they gained almost legendary status, yet they never fulfilled their potential because they were not produced in sufficient numbers and the tide the war had turned against the German army by the time they were introduced. Often they were deployed in difficult circumstances and in defensive battles, struggling against the odds. Nowhere was this more true than in western Europe during the Allied advance across France and into Germany, and it is the Tigers of this phase of the war that Dennis Oliver portrays in his third volume on the Tiger in the TankCraft series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Allied armor and air attacks during the last days of the conflict. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.
Tank Destroyer, Achilles and M10
British Army Anti-Tank Units, Western Europe, 1944–1945
Part of the TankCraft series
In this heavily illustrated volume in the TankCraft series Dennis Oliver focuses on the Achilles — the British variant of the American M10 — which was one of the most important Allied tank destroyers of the Second World War. It played a key role in the armored battles fought on the Western Front, in particular in France, the Low Countries, Germany and Italy. Built on an adapted Sherman chassis, with sloped armor, an open-topped turret and powerful 17-pounder gun, it was designed to counter the threat posed by the formidable panzers deployed by the German army toward the end of the conflict, in particular the Panther and Tiger tanks. The book covers the design and operational history of the Achilles in close detail, using rare archive photographs and meticulously researched color illustrations, as well as a detailed, authoritative text. A key section displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic armored fighting vehicles.
M48 Patton
American Cold War Battle Tank
Part of the TankCraft series
A fully illustrated and historically informative guide to building scale models of the U.S. Army's iconic Cold War main battle tank.
The M48 Patton main battle tank was one of the longest-serving and most successful designs in the U.S. military. A significant advance from the Sherman and M47, the M48 formed the backbone of American armored forces during the early years of the Cold War. It saw combat in Vietnam, during the Indo-Pakistan wars and in the Middle East, especially during the Iran-Iraq War.
Archive photos of the M48 in service and extensively researched color profile illustrations depict the tank throughout its operational life. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined and provide everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the M48.
Panther Tanks: German Army and Waffen-SS, Defence of the West, 1945
Part of the TankCraft series
In late 1944 and 1945 the Panther tank played an important role in Germany's desperate efforts to stem the Allied advance on the Western Front. The Panther, perhaps the best armored vehicle produced by Germany during the Second World War, was a key element in the Wehrmacht's defensive tactics, in rearguard actions and counterattacks, and it took a prominent part in the last German offensive of the war, in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. So it is an ideal subject for Dennis Oliver's latest volume in the TankCraft series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Panther tanks and units of the German army and Waffen-SS panzer battalions that struggled to resist the Allied onslaught. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.
Stug III & Stug IV
German Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe: Western Front, 1944–1945
Part of the TankCraft series
In the last years of the Second World War the Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) and Sturmgeschütz IV (StuG IV) played a vital role as assault guns during the German army's struggle to block the Allied advance on the Western Front. As the Wehrmacht's tank forces declined, these armored vehicles were thrown into every defensive operation. They are not as well known as the Tigers and Panthers, but German resistance would have been much weaker without them. They were also among the most frequently encountered German armored vehicles on the battlefields, which is why they are such a fascinating subject for Dennis Oliver in this volume in the TankCraft series He uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the StuG III and StuG IV deployed by the German army and the Waffen-SS during these doomed campaigns. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic armored vehicles.
Tiger I: German Army Heavy Tank
Eastern Front, Summer 1943
Part of the TankCraft series
The Tiger I tank, probably the most famous German armoured vehicle of the Second World War, might have been a war-winning, break-through weapon if it had been produced in sufficient numbers and if it had been introduced earlier on the Eastern Front, before the balance of strength had tipped towards the Soviet Union. At the Battle of Kursk there were not enough Tigers to make a decisive difference and thereafter the Tiger was forced to play a mainly defensive role as the Wehrmacht struggled to withstand the advances of the Red Army. And it is this period in the Tiger tank's short history that Dennis Oliver concentrates on in this, his third book on the Tiger in the TankCraft series.
He uses archive photos and extensively researched colour illustrations to examine the tanks and units of the German army's heavy panzer battalions. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of the Tigers of 1943.
Panther Tanks: Germany Army and Waffen SS, Normandy Campaign 1944
Part of the TankCraft series
Central to the German strategy of dealing with an Allied landing in France was the availability of a strong, mobile armored reserve. In June 1944, as part of this force, the Army in the West was able to deploy over 300 Panther tanks, perhaps the best armored fighting vehicle produced by Germany during the Second World War. British and American tank crews found to their horror that the Panthers could often survive numerous hits while a single round from one of their 75mm guns was enough to destroy any enemy tank. In his book, his third in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photographs and painstakingly researched, exquisitely presented color illustrations to examine the part these powerful tanks played in the Normandy battles and also the battalions that operated them. As with previous titles in the TankCraft series, a large part of this book showcases available model kits and after-market products and accessories, complemented by a gallery of skillfully constructed and painted models.
Panzer IV, 1939–1945
Part of the TankCraft series
With comprehensive captions and text this superb book tells the story of the production of the Panzer IV to the key battles in Poland, France, North Africa, Italy, Russia and North West Europe. Initially the Panzer IV was designed as an infantry support tank, but soon proved to be so diverse and effective that it earned a unique tactical role on the battlefield.
The book shows how the Panzer IV evolved and describes how the Germans carefully utilized all available reserves and resources into building numerous variants that went into production and saw action on the battlefield. It depicts how these formidable tanks were adapted and up-gunned to face the ever increasing enemy threat.
Between 1936 and 1945, over 8,000 Panzer IVs were built. For most of the war this tank was a match for its opponent’s heavy tanks and quickly and effectively demonstrated its superiority on the battlefield.
The Panzer IV was the only German tank to remain in production during the war. Its chassis was converted into more models than any other Panzers that entered service. As well as the various prototype projects and command tanks, observation vehicles, ammunition carriers, recovery vehicles, amphibious armored ferry vehicles that saw service, the book will show a multiple of converted anti-tank propelled vehicles.
Panzer III, German Army Light Tank
North Africa, Tripoli to El Alamein 1941–1942
Part of the TankCraft series
The Pzkpfw Ill was the most effective tank available to the German army in North Africa during the battles of 1941. It outnumbered all the other types in service with the Afrikakorps at that time and when compared to the Pzkpfw I and Pzkpfw II designs it was a potent, modern weapons system. Although less heavily armored than its British opponents it was sturdy and reliable and its main armament was the equal of any enemy anti-tank gun it was called upon to face. This volume of the TankCraft series, the first of two parts, examines the story of the tank's North African service beginning with the arrival of Panzer-Regiment 5 in Tripoli and ending with the advance to El Alamein in late 1942. Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Pzkpfw Ill and the Panzer units that took part in the early battles in North Africa. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.