Number 18 in Osprey's popular 'duel' series is this next one on the two main battle tanks that faced each other during Desert Storm in 1991. As is often the case in the equipment featured in this series as in war, the two combatants are not exactly evenly matched. However, one goes to war with the equipment available and such was the case here.

The M1 Abrams is a culmination of a long process to produce a quality turbine-powered tank that would be able to match the best the Soviet Union could offer in a European battle. The T-72 was a slight step down from the Soviet's premier battle tank, the T-80, and was a standard tank that was supplied to Warsaw Pact nations and other client states. It is a good tank, but not quite up to the specs of what was the best that the Soviets had.

As in most conflicts, there was one side that had the best equipment, the best training and the best ammunition. In this case, the cards were all on the side of the Abrams. The T-72 did not have the best trained crews, though many of them were combat veterans of the Iran/Iraq war. The ammunition that was supplied to the Iraqi army was not the APFSDS (armor-piercing, fin-stabilized, discarding-sabot) rounds that were used by the US and proved to be so effective. Finally, the Iraqis tended to use their tanks more like artillery and dug them in where they could be more easily destroyed than if they were moving. Though this was the first battle for the Abrams, it acquitted itself very well and proved itself to be quite effective against the best the Iraqi army had to offer.

Author Zaloga follows a tried and true format in this Duel book by first providing the design and development of both tanks. There is then a section on the technical specifications of each followed by a look at the military in which both were used and how they trained for battle. Next is a look at the situation prior to the start of the war and then a look at some of the more important battles in which these two tanks were used. Finally, an analysis of how these tanks fared; their strengths and weaknesses.

Overall, it makes for a most interesting read and provides a good look at these two important MBTs. It is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I'm sure you will as well. Like all Osprey titles it is one that I can easily recommend to you.

November 2009

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