Tank destroyer book...

[Dietrich]

I just thought that people might be interested in an excerpt from a book that I got as a pressie.
ISBN number 9 780811 732420

It paints the 'Ferdinande' / 'Elefant' tank destroyer in a slightly more 'reliable' light that the version that we are used to .
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Interestingly enough amongst the items ordered for the much delayed repairs and maintenance that was required after the battle of Kursk were 100 Square metres of 10mm armour plate and
50 Square metres of 30 mm armour plate.. could this have been added as the standoff grating protection against the phosphorus that we are used to seeing on later war Panzers as anti-aircraft attack armour??... I have not seen it in any photos but that much armour must have been used for something that was quite large in area.
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.....Please click on the scans from the book to make them EASILY legible.....

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning,
Those pages make fascinating reading. This book has been on my list for some time to coincide with the purchase of a 1/16 Ferdinand. Thank you for posting those up.
regards,
Painless

[billpe]

This book is a pretty good read. The analysis of the Ferdinand is interesting, it was actually very effective and highly survivable if it had infantry support. Also backs up what other studies of Kursk come up with I.e. it was won with mines more than anything else.

[Lord Haw-Haw]

The units that used the stugs' prior receiving the Ferdinand/Elephant, used good tacts -had very high kill ratio's, the SS and such (overly aggressive) unit's that operated them like a break through tank, these numbers are what most pre late 1990's (lazy authors) text like'd to regurgitate. The victors get to write the history, or something like that so the saying goes. I kinda enjoy these lores as it's made me buy new and better books then those I grew up reading during the '70-'80's ....it's a second childhood, very enjoyable.

[tanker 242]

as billpe says if it had infantry support & a mg for self defence ,& did you know the chassis was made by the designer originally as a prototype for the tiger one,but was rejected by hitler

[Dietrich]

382 pages including the drawings etc at the back so its quite a thick book and its an interesting read so far to about page 70.
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Painless.. Looking forward to seeing what you 'do' with the Ferdinand that you get !
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Lord Haw Haw.. I think that what you mean here..." The victors get to write the history ".. is something like my (long time) signature below...

[PainlessWolf]

Dietrich,
Thank you, Sir. I have a StuG III B , an early Tiger kit build and a 1/6 Stuart in front of it but I will get there.
regards,
Painless

[Lord Haw-Haw]

Thanks Dietrich for the find,
Just bought the Kindle Edition:

[Dietrich]

Hi Haw Haw,
Thanks for the update...
I actually got a second book in the series as well .. but I cannot remember the name at the moment and the book is in juniors room... I will post the front cover and the ISBN number tomorrow

[Dietrich]

Second book... ISBN 9 780811 734844 ' The combat history of the GERMAN TIGER BATTALION 503 in world war II'
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It looks like a very good book ,...... 439 pages ........' based upon facts and experience written down by the individual former members of the battalion'..
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>> Please click on the images to enlarge them so that they can be more easily read <<<<
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I have included the introduction by the last commander of the battalion.... and have underlined a very meaningful section in red ..