When the subject of World War II artillery comes up, often the first piece named is the German "88" (millimetre gun). Allied tankers feared dug-in "88s", accurate like a sniper's rifle...delivering a 20-pound "bullet" from 3000 yards. Bomber crews dreaded flying through "Flak" put up by "88s." Every Allied ground soldier in Europe knew what a "Tiger tank with an 88" was...and did not want to face one.

Osprey Publishing, famed for its Men At Arms Series on the soldiers of history, branched out into new territory with its New Vanguard series on ships, vehicles and artillery, enthisiasts and modelers benefiting greatly. Omnipresent on battlefields since the Renaissance...but not often addressed as a free-standing subject, artillery in general and notable pieces in particular are overdue for their day in print. Osprey New Vanguard No. 46, German 88mm , FlaK 18, 36, 37, KWK41 and PaK43 provides a "quick look" at several members of the "88 Family."

As usual for Osprey, the colour section comprises a gallery of 8 pages of "veddy interesting" artwork by Mike Fuller. A "centerspread" with the parts of an "88" (on cruciform mount) labeled is particularly tasty, as is the illustration of a railroad flatcar mount. Even a little info on "88" ammunition; good stuff here.

Five marques of the "88" are addressed, somewhat separately,  in their roles as antiaircraft (FlaK, Fliegerabwehr Kanone) and anti-tank (PaK, Panzerabwehr Kanone) . The "88"-toting Tiger and King Tiger tanks are not covered in the volume, nor the specific "KWK" (KampfWagen Kannonen) guns of 88 mm calibre. From '39 to '45, the "88s" appearing simultaneously in three distinct roles made it appear to "recipients"...of the dreaded gun being everywhere, all the time, which it sort of was.

Back in the 1960s, British Royal Artillery Master Gunner Ian Hogg said of the German 88 mm gun (paraphrased), "Competently designed, available in quantity and possessing good ballistic qualities, the '88' always seemed to be making a nuisance of itself." To his credit, author John Norris treats the legendary "88" objectively, no mean feat, given the mystique enveloping the "88 Family." A bonus near the end of the book is a bit on non-German post War uses of the "88."

Truth be told, Britain fielded the similar-design-specifications 3.7 inch (94 mm), and the US the 90 mm antiaircraft guns. Both the 3.7 and 90 possessed similar and in some ways superior ballistic qualities to the "88." (American tankers with T26 Pershings mounting 90s "flaunted" their guns' accuracy by plinking at German helmets at 2000 yards with APCBC solid shot.)  Neither the 3.7 or 90 was used widely against ground targets, and the massed Luftwaffe bombing attacks were over by '41, so neither gun "showed up" to worry Axis servicemen as widely as the hated "88" did to the Allies.

There is not room in a book this short for any one, let alone all "88" variants to receive comprehensive coverage. Treat New Vanguard 46 as a "survey" or "overview" and you will not be disappointed. Should your interest require greater detail on any specific application of the "88," 'twould be best to seek out additional sources.

As the "88" is well represented in 1/76, 1/72 and 1/35 plastic artillery pieces and vehicles, modelers of several persuasions can appereciate the tome.

Highly recommended.

Review copy courtesy of the reviewer's chequebook, purchased from Prosek's Greenhouse and Military Model Shop, Winfield, IL, USA

Reviewed by James Hood.

For Scott Van Aken's Modeling Madness review of James Hood's novel, Adventure--Into The Neverland, go to: http://users3.ev1.net/~bjmonkeyandcj/James_Hood.htm  

February 2005

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