As a valuable part of its Blitzkrieg tactics, the German army deployed light armored cars in the forward reconnaissance role. The success of these vehicles led to the requirement for a heavy armored car - the SdKfz 231 series. These advanced design eight-wheel drive and steering vehicles entered service in 1938 and were unique in another way: they were the first military vehicles to have two - a front and a rear - driving positions. Development continued through the war years and in 1942 the 234 series entered service. These were much-improved vehicles with better armor and more powerful armament. The 231/234 series spurred the US Army to develop its own eight-wheel armored car, the Boarhound. A direct descendent of the 8 Rad, the Schwerer Panzersphäwagen Luchs, remains in service with the German Army of today.
PRODUCT DETAILS
Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing Pub. Date: 30th November 2003 Catalog: Book Media: Paperback Number Of Pages: 96 Ean: 9780711029903 Isbn: 0711029903
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USER REVIEWS
Very good detail.. ~ Written on Nov 1, 2009. out of users found this review helpful.
This book provides a very good history of the development of this vehicle, in most of its major variants, along with great detail on each variant. The detail comes in the form of many B&W photos of the vehicle from a variety of angles and, more importantly, close up. These include photos of interiors, top views, tools and kit and engine, frames and gearboxes. For the model or diarama builder an excellent source. There are also excellent color illustrations on a very wide variety of vehicle markings (i.e., different divisions and regiments, different functions [i.e., long range reconnaisance, command vehicle, long range communications vehicle, etc.). There are also some color photos of versions currently in museums in color but these, unfortunately, do not provide good color camouflage patterns. This is the one real weakness of the book from a modeler's perspective (and hence four stars instead of five). It is highly recommend, for these camouflage patterns, one reference either one of the Schieffler publications for the vehicle (if one has plenty of money to burn as these are expensive) or one of the Osprey publications on the vehicles (much more cost effective albeith there are fewer color plates - but the ones there are are very detailed and cover the vehicle in profile from every angle, [side, top, front, back]). Another weakness of the book is that it is really not intended for the non-model builder. There is little discussion or photos of the vehicle in combat, operations, performance, operational history (as opposed to developmental history of the vehicle per se) and no comparisons of the vehicle with allied counterparts.
Good book for the interested model builder ~ Written on Jun 12, 2008. out of users found this review helpful.
This book and this series for that matter, is wonderful for the scale model builder or wargamer who is interested in German military vehicles of WWII. This book focuses on the 8 wheeled variant armored cars used by the German Military with great success during WWII. It gives an excellent vehicle/design history, info on tactics, lots of specific mechanical details, tons of images including actual photos, period diagrams, even a section on unit markings. It would be an excellent resource for any scale model builder who is building a "Puma" or other sdkfz 231/234 vehicle. This is just an all around good book from a very useful series of books.
(2 customer reviews)
Good book for the interested model builder
