Der Deutsche Panzer und Militarfahrzeuge an der Front Bilband

A.J. Carrington

Authors:Toshiaki Namie (Editor)
Publisher: Dai Nippon Kaiga Co. Ltd. (Japan)
ISBN 4-499-22693-7
Price: 2800 Yen

Dimensions: 8"x 9", 160 pages

This is the second title in the "an der Front Bilband" series from the publishers of Model Graphix. As with the first,
all photos have been gathered and reproduced from the original negatives kept in storage by the "Etablissement
Cinematographique et Photographique des Armees" in France. As a result, the photos are of extremely high
quality and provide excellent insight into the vehicles and their crews.

Review

To begin, this book provides sequences of photos taken of the same vehicle, or a group of vehicles. Most
sequences cover subject matter from early 1943 through late 1944. There are some sequences from North Africa
which are dated around late 1942.

The list of vehicles covered includes:

BMW R12
Sd.kfz.7/1 w/ 2cm Flak
Sd.kfz.10
Sd.kfz.231
Sd.kfz.232
Sd.kfz.233
Sd.kfz.250
Sd.kfz.251/1
Sd.kfz.251/3
Sd.kfz.251/7
Sd.kfz.251/9
Sd.kfz.251/10
Sd.kfz.301C
Stu.G. III (Short Barrel)
Pz.kpfw.IV Ausf. H
Pz.kpfw.IV Ausf. J Command
Flakpanzer IV
"Hornisse"
Pz.kpfw. Panther Ausf. D
Pz.kpfw. Panther Ausf. A
Pz.kpfw. Panther Ausf. A Command
Pz.kpfw. Panther Ausf. G (Early)
"Jagdpanther" (Early Version)

Of particular note are the following sequences:

SCHWERE PANZERSPAHWAGEN 8-RAD of 190. Panzeraufklarunskompanie, November 1942, Tunisia
This series of photos covers a variety of 8-wheeled armoured cars, including those with 2cm and 7.5cm mounts.
There are also some excellent shots of the side-stowage (bedrolls, personal effects, etc.) and natural camouflage
used.

PANZERGRENADIER-LEHR REGIMENT, June 1944, France
Excellent shots of late-war panzergrenadiers and their halftracks. A large number of these photos are posed.

9. SS PANZER DIVISION "HOHENSTAUFEN", Summer 1944, France
Very interesting series of shots showing a Sd.kfz.251/10 towing a heavily camouflaged Pak.40. Of particular note
is the sPzB41 2.8cm gun mounted on the halftrack. A couple of the detail shots concentrate on the weapon
breech and mounting arrangement.

111. PANZER BRIGADE, 2111. PANZER ABEILTUNG, STAFF COMPANY, Summer 1944, France
Incredibly detailed photos of a Pz.kpfw.IV Ausf. J command tank w/ zimmerit and its crew. A number of the
shots are taken of the crew "in position" and give an excellent view of what internal stowage would be typically
visible from the exterior. As well, the some of the photos provide an excellent idea as to the mud/dirt build-up on
the lower hull, suspension and tracks.

116. PANZER DIVISION, November 1944, Belgium
An interesting series of shots of a group of panzergrenadiers and a command halftrack. The group seem to have
paused their advance to inspect a knocked-out M-10.

15. PANZER REGIMENT (11. PANZER DIVISION), Summer 1943, France
A series of photos showing a group of Panther Ds on the firing range during training in France. Of particular
interest is the vertical zimmerit pattern.

12. SS PANZER DIVISION, August 1944, France
A couple of good photos of a Panther A command tank. Of note is the external stowage mounted on the turret
sides.

654. SCHWERE PANZERJAGER ABEILTUNG, Summer 1944, France
This series of photos shows an early Jagdpanther towing a sister vehicle down a country road.

Colour Plates and Line Drawings

None.

Summary

An excellent book showing mid-late war German armour in the field. Not only is the quality of the photos superb,
the 'series' format allows one to get an excellent sense of the 'complete vehicle'. Rather than have to piece
information from a variety of photos of various vehicles and put it together, each series allows one to get all the
information on one particular vehicle.

On the downside is that all the text, other than the titles, is in Japanese. Thankfully, the pictures speak for
themselves.

Rating: 4 out of 5