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PANZERWRECKS
Panzerwrecks 3, by William Auerbach & Lee Archer. Soft-covers, 8.25 x 11-inches, landscape format, 98 pages. Contains 125 B&W photographs. ISBN 978-0-9754183-2-1.
This third volume in this series continues the team’s stated objective of bringing unusual or previously un-seen photographs of late-war German AFVs to modelers and enthusiasts. In a bit of a departure, a fair number of photos in this book have indeed been seen before. But usually, the “sets” of images the photos belonged to have never been completely printed together, or, if seen at all, were scattered throughout several publications or web sources.
With that in mind, let’s see what these two diligent archive-diggers (and their world-wide group of co-conspirators) have got for us this time around!
The book opens up with a 15-image sequence of Jagdpanzer 38s and Maultier half-tracks during their surrender. Tagging along is a totally-unique ex-US M3 half-track, complete with German camouflage and a pair of mounts for the Wurfahmen 40 un-guided rocket on each side of the superstructure. Talk about a “different” way to depict the up-coming DML M3 half-track kit!
The previously-seen images include the complete set of photos taken during the surrender of s.H.Pz.Jag.Abt.512 in Iserlohn, Germany on 16 April 1945. Starring several of the unit’s Jagdtigers, the sequence of 50 images also shows Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.D half-tracks, Bergepanther Ausf.G, soft-skin vehicles, individual weapons, personnel and a unique captured ex-US M3A1 scout car in German colors and markings. This is all great stuff. The next large sequence (13 images) depicts the vehicles (Panzer IV/70(V), Flakpanzer IV Wirblewind and Jagdpanther) of s.H.Pz.Jag.Abt.655 after its surrender to Canadian forces, as well as others from Panzer-Einsatz-Abteilung 20 at the same time, parked in a vehicle dump. Interestingly, many details of the markings are clearly seen, some for the first time.
Spread throughout the remainder of the book are images of Italian-built SP guns in German service, Panzerkampfwagen-Nachbildung (simulated tank on automobile chassis), Kettenkrad, Sd.Kfz.231, Nashorn, Marder II Ausf.D2, Marder III Ausf.M, Sd.Kfz.250 Ausf.B half-track, Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.D half-tracks, StuG.III and StuG.IV, Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen, Pz.Kpfw.35R 731(f), Pz.Kpfw.II, Pz.Kpfw.III, Pz.Kpfw.IV, Panther, Tiger I and Jagdtiger. This last one is the cover shot as well; careful inspection reveals that it had the 18-tooth drive sprocket and modified track links of the type with Porsche suspension, which is not mentioned in the caption. Another nifty sequence consisting of five images, shows a StuG.III without superstructure, modified by Polish troops with a winch and boom as a recovery tank.
Overall, the quality of the images is good-to-excellent, given the original sources. The authors have also taken pains to use the latest computer imaging hardware and software to enhance the quality of these images wherever possible. In addition, many images occupy an entire page, which allows for much in the way of detail to be seen. Overall the captions are quite competent, and in a couple of cases are supported by a bit of extra text.
There has been much in the way of “good press” surrounding these books since their inception, and quite deservedly so. If you are sitting on the fence, wondering if you should purchase any one (or all) of these fine publications, I say, “Take the plunge!”
Highly recommended.
Frank V. “Curley Stooge” De Sisto
Panzerwrecks books can be acquired direct through their web site at: www.panzerwrecks.com, e-mail: bill@panzerwrecks.com or lee@panzerwrecks.com.
