This latest edition of the New Vanguard series is #140. For those that may be unaware, this series is one of my favorites in the Osprey catalogue as it covers the machinery of warfare. Those of us who like to model things find books like this to be excellent references.

A subject that few know much about and many may not have realized existed are armored trains. These were first used in the American Civil War and while they were generally standard rail items modified with steel plating or even rail ties for protection, they generally were good at what they did. The most successful was a Union rail monitor used during the siege of Petersburgh.

Next major use was the Boer war where war correspondent Winston Churchill was in an armored train that was captured by the enemy. Again, these were simply modified standard rail cars.

It wasn't until WWI when specialized armored trains were developed with massive armor and even steel turrets. The Allies were not big into them nor were the Germans. Trench warfare stifled the ability of these highly mobile weapons platforms to be useful. It was on the Eastern side of things that they were used a great deal. The Russian front was not trench warfare and so it was the Russians who really became the master of the armored train. Even after the armistice with Germany, these weapons were highly prized and used considerably in the Bolshevik revolution and subsequent wars of the early 1920.

It was natural that many of these trains would be used in Eastern Russia so it was that the Chinese had the opportunity to not only see these in action, but had many built for their own use against each other and later against the Japanese. Several captured ones were used by the Japanese in China later during WWII.

WWII saw probably the last use of the armored train. Again, the Germans had little use for them, but did build several to use as flak cars and some were used on the Russian front, where again, the Russians used a number of these. But the end was in sight for it was seen that aircraft heavily limited their movements and effectiveness.

Steven Zaloga tells the story of these interesting machines and backed by superb period photos and the artwork of Tony Bryan, provides you with an outstanding book on a truly unique subject. Get this one, you'll be pleased you did.

January 2008

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