The Panther tank was basically the German response to the surprise that was the Soviet T-34. Much of the external armor placement was based on the T-34s and taken to the next level. As was frequently the case with German armor, the tank was a superb performer. Many consider the Panther to be the granddaddy of the modern MBT in terms of combining firepower, armor and speed in one vehicle. However, as innovative a design as was the tank, it was mechanically complex. This is a trait that plagued German armor design throughout the war. As such, it was prone to mechanical breakdown if not treated carefully, something one often could not do during battle. Many were abandon due to some mechanical fault in some place they could not be recovered.

This book in Pen and Sword's excellent 'Images of War' series concentrates on the Panther tank and more importantly on the tank battalions. This means that we get to see images of some of the other, support vehicles that made up a battalion, though not as many as I've seen in other 'battalion' books. Most of the superbly chosen images is of the Panther and its crew in various locations. There are several sections, broken down by year and locale. Each is provided a brief historical background. Same for the overall book. However, the main focus of these books is images and in this were are provided plenty.

It makes for not only another superb addition to the series, but is one that I know enthusiasts and modelers will use for references. It is a book that I can easily recommend to you. Pick it up when you can.

November 2020

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