Volume 4 in their Russian Armor series, this book is on what is probably the best known Soviet tank of the Second World War, the T-34. It is a tank that was sorely needed by Soviet armor forces as their previous tanks were either too lightly armed, too lightly armored, too slow or too unreliable. The T-34 was a tank that came as a huge surprise to the Germans and made most of their anti-tank guns obsolete and ineffective, except at very close range. The T-34 was also able to hold its own against Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks. Like everything in war, the Germans learned and were able to produce variants that were improved, but then the Soviets did the same things.

The author, Mikhail Baryatinskiy, tells us the story of the T-34 from its initial prototype designs in 1938 through the A-20 and A-32 prototypes to the A-34, which was eventually to be the T-34. As is so much the case, the T-34 underwent a plethora of modifications and there were differences between tanks built at different factories as well.

The book takes us through all of that and includes those vehicles based on the T-34 chassis. It includes a close look at T-34 armament and systems, then goes into several examples of the T-34 as used in combat during some of the more major operations of the war.

All of this is further enhanced by quality period photographs and a superb selection of profiles and drawings. It makes for a very well-rounded book that will be prized by both the enthusiast and modeler alike. An excellent reference and a book I know you will want to have.

October  2007

Review book courtesy of  Casemate Publishing, where you can order your copy of this and many other superb books.

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