|
Panzer Tracts No. 9-3 "Jagdpanther",
Panzerjaeger Panther (8.8 cm) (Sd.Kfz.173) Ausf.G1 und G2
by Thomas L. Jentz and Hilary
Louis Doyle
Panzer Tracts, P.O. Box 334, Boyds, MD 20841, USA, www.panzertracts.com,
ISBN 0-9771643-0-6, 92 pages, US$29.95
This is superb reference to the Jagdpanther. As always the Panzer Tracts
team has used its years of research to give us information that is drawn
only from German archives or examination of surviving vehicles, with none
of the mistakes of Allied Intelligence reports repeated here. There were
two types of Jagdpanther, the Ausfuehrungs G1 and G2, with the G2 having
a longer engine deck on the same length of hull and therefore a steeper
angle to its rear superstructure. This demonstrates that the notorious
kits with different rear superstructure angles may both be correct ,depending
on which engine deck is provided.
The book gives very complete development and production histories, with
data on month-by-month production. Modifications during production are
described, as well as those authorised to be made by user units. The stowage
bin on the rear of the superstructure turns out to be a unit addition
by sPzJagAbt 654, not a feature of early production Jagdpanthers as some
have stated. A detailed chapter on organisation and tactics ends the book,
alike the rest of the text it includes extracts from unit reports to provide
an insight into actual tactics and into what changes the crews wanted
in both equipment and tactics. A plethora of period photographs show exterior
differences and interior details, with no photos of possibly inaccurate
museum restorations. There are four 1/35 scale five-view plans of the
major production types and 1/35 plans of the belly layouts of Ausfs G1
and G2, and 1/10 scale drawings show all the important parts and fittings
in even more detail. No Jagdpanther modeller should build without this
book - very highly recommended!
John Prigent
|
|