<div>Designed with the hard lessons of the North African campaign in mind, including the adoption of a dual-purpose gun capable of firing high-explosive and anti-tank rounds, the Cromwell was one of the most successful of the British cruiser tanks produced during the Second World War.The lack of heavy armor was made up for by the tank's high speed provided by a Rolls-Royce Meteor engine. The Centaur was externally almost identical to the Cromwell, the major difference being the installation of the less powerful Liberty engine. While the Centaur equipped the Royal Marines during the Normandy battles, the Cromwell served until the end of the war and formed the basis for the Comet.In his fifth book in the TankCraft series, author and illustrator Dennis Oliver uses official wartime photographs and comprehensively researched, exquisitely presented color profiles to tell the story of the penultimate British cruiser tank. In common with all the titles from the TankCraft series, the large full-color section features available model kits and accessories as well as after market products.In addition to the color profiles there is a gallery of expertly constructed and painted models. A separate section explains technical details and modifications made during production and in the field, giving the modeler all the information required to recreate an authentic replica of one of the tanks that served from the Normandy beaches to the final battles in Germany.</div>

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Cromwell and Centaur Tanks

<div>Designed as a heavily armored tank which could accompany infantry formations, the Churchill's ability to cross rough ground and climb seemingly unassailable hills became legendary. The tank first saw action in 1942 and the basic design was constantly reworked and upgunned, culminating in the Mark VII version which was capable of taking on the heaviest German tanks. In his fourth book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photographs and thoroughly researched, vividly presented color profiles to tell the story of these iconic British tanks. As readers have come to expect from the TankCraft series, the large full colour section of this book features available model kits and accessories as well as aftermarket products. In addition to the color profiles there is a gallery of expertly constructed and painted models. A separate section explains technical details and production modifications giving the modeler all the information and knowledge required to recreate an authentic reproduction of one of the tanks that contributed so much to the British effort in the battles for Normandy.</div>

Churchill Tanks

<div>&ldquo;First class illustration and a very effective text overview . . . covers the development, on the Panther chassis, of a very effective tank destroyer.&rdquo;&mdash; Firetrench Combining the destructive firepower of the 88mm gun with the outstanding mobility of the Panther series, the Jagdpanther is quite probably the best-known tank destroyer of the Second World War. In the vehicle&rsquo;s first action on 30 July 1944, three Jagdpanthers managed to destroy eleven British tanks in a vicious two-minute fire fight near the village of Les Loges in Normandy, cementing the Jagdpanther&rsquo;s reputation as a potent tank killer. In his fifth book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses contemporary photographs and meticulously researched, superbly presented color and monochrome illustrations to tell the story of these heavy self-propelled antitank guns and the units which operated them in the German defense of the Western Front. As with all the books in the TankCraft series, a large part of this work showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of expertly constructed and painted models. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also explained giving the modeler all the information and knowledge required. &ldquo;Really interesting concept to combine historical, technical and modeling content in one book. Nicely illustrated . . . As a first Jagdpanther book for modelers seeking an economical source on models, accessories and paint schemes, this is valuable&hellip; Highly Recommended for Beginner to Intermediate builders.&rdquo;&mdash;AMPS</div>

Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer

<div>A guide blending the history behind the two World War II German tanks with resources for military vehicle modeling enthusiasts. In spite of the relatively small numbers produced, the Tiger I and Tiger II tanks are arguably the most famous armored fighting vehicles of the Second World War. This book, the first in the TankCraft series, uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy panzer battalions that attempted to hold back the Red Army during 1944. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the tanks that fought from the snow-covered fields of Byelorussia and the Ukraine, through the Baltic States, and into Poland and Hungary. &ldquo;From a technical standpoint the book is a winner. Throw in all of the unit histories and then add the modelling, and it is a superb book on the Tiger I-II tanks. . . . The book is really a showcase of the [modelers] and their builds, and gives the rest of us a shot in the arm to up our game on our next Tiger tank.&rdquo; &mdash;A Wargamers Needful Things</div>

Tiger I and Tiger II

<div>A fully illustrated guide to the German Tiger I tank and its operations in the field by the renowned expert on WWII armored vehicles. At Hitler&rsquo;s insistence, the first Tiger I tanks drove into action in Tunisia in December 1942. Despite their lack of reliability and the small number deployed, they quickly gained a fierce reputation. With its heavy armor and 88mm gun, the Tiger I outclassed all the Allied tanks then in service. Beyond their deployment in North Africa, they also operated in Sicily and Italy between 1943 and 1945. In his second volume in the TankCraft series on the Tiger, Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Tiger tank and the German army units that first took them into combat. Perfect for model enthusiasts, Tiger I showcases available model kits and aftermarket products. It also includes a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details, as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field, are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the tanks.</div>

Tiger I

<div>&ldquo;One neat book full of markings for British Shermans. It will greatly appeal to both modelers and AFV enthusiasts and historians.&rdquo;&mdash;AMPS Indianapolis With production in excess of 55,000, the Sherman tank was eventually in service with most Allied armies of the Second World War and by the time of the Normandy landings was the mainstay of Britain&rsquo;s armored battalions. In his second book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses wartime photos and extensively researched, exquisitely presented color illustrations to cover the Sherman tanks used by the units of the Royal Armoured Corps and the Royal Marines during the fighting in northern France. As with all the books in the TankCraft series, a large part of this work showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also explained as is the complex system of markings employed by British armored regiments. This book will give the modeler all the information and knowledge required to recreate an authentic miniature representation of the tanks that fought from the beaches of Normandy, through the battles for Caen and on to killing fields of Falaise. &ldquo;Provides a clear overview of the Sherman tank in British service during the Normandy Campaign. This will appeal to anyone with an interest in armoured warfare and the period covered. Much Recommended.&rdquo;&mdash;Firetrench &ldquo;A good-value reference for any Sherman fan, but particularly those new to the subject and who favour &lsquo;Blighty&rsquo;s&rsquo; armour.&rdquo;&mdash;Airfix Model World</div>

Sherman Tanks of the British Army and Royal Marines

<div>History buffs, modelers, and wargamers will find &ldquo;authentic orders of battle and narratives of the actual situations these units faced in Normandy&rdquo; (Schopenhauer&rsquo;s Workshop). Central to the German strategy of dealing with an Allied landing in France was the availability of a strong, mobile armored reserve. In June 1944, as part of this force, the Army in the West was able to deploy over 300 Panther tanks, perhaps the best armored fighting vehicle produced by Germany during the Second World War. British and American tank crews found to their horror that the Panthers could often survive numerous hits while a single round from one of their 75mm guns was enough to destroy any enemy tank. In his third book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photographs and painstakingly researched, exquisitely presented color illustrations to examine the part these powerful tanks played in the Normandy battles and also the battalions that operated them. As with previous titles in the TankCraft series, a large part of this book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products and accessories, complemented by a gallery of skillfully constructed and painted models. &ldquo;As with other books in this series there are many excellent photographs and color drawings, with clear text providing all of the background information to the deployment and actions of the Panther in Normandy.&rdquo;&mdash;Firetrench &ldquo;Very much a modellers book but tied in so well with the details of the tank and the context of the history surrounding it. Good value and well worth adding to your reference shelf.&rdquo;&mdash;Military Model Scene</div>

Panther Tanks: Germany Army and Waffen SS, Normandy Campaign 1944

<div>An in-depth overview of these fearsome heavy tanks, including photos, illustrations, and modeling information. Tiger tanks were among the most-feared fighting vehicles of the Second World War. They gained almost legendary status&mdash;yet they never fulfilled their potential, because they were not produced in sufficient numbers and the tide of the war had turned against the German army by the time they were introduced. Often they were deployed in difficult circumstances and in defensive battles, struggling against the odds. Nowhere was this truer than in western Europe during the Allied advance across France and into Germany, and it is the Tigers of this phase of the war that Dennis Oliver portrays in his third volume on the Tiger in the TankCraft series. Using archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations, he examines the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Allied armor and air attacks during the last days of the conflict. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.</div>

Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks

<div>A guide that blends the history behind this German World War II tank with resources for military vehicle modeling enthusiasts. In the last years of the Second World War the Sturmgesch&uuml;tz III (StuG III) and Sturmgesch&uuml;tz IV (StuG IV) played a vital role as assault guns during the German army&rsquo;s struggle to block the Allied advance on the Western Front. As the Wehrmacht&rsquo;s tank forces declined, these armored vehicles were thrown into every defensive operation. They are not as well-known as the Tigers and Panthers, but German resistance would have been much weaker without them. They were also among the most frequently encountered German armored vehicles on the battlefields, which is why they are such a fascinating subject for Dennis Oliver in this volume in the TankCraft series He uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the StuG III and StuG IV deployed by the German army and the Waffen-SS during these doomed campaigns. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic armored vehicles.</div>

Stug III & Stug IV

<div>A guide that blends the history behind the German World War II tank with resources for military vehicle modeling enthusiasts. In late 1944 and 1945, the Panther tank played an important role in Germany&rsquo;s desperate efforts to stem the Allied advance on the Western Front. The Panther, perhaps the best armored vehicle produced by Germany during the Second World War, was a key element in the Wehrmacht&rsquo;s defensive tactics, in rearguard actions and counterattacks, and it took a prominent part in the last German offensive of the war, in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. So it is an ideal subject for Dennis Oliver&rsquo;s latest volume in the TankCraft series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Panther tanks and units of the German army and Waffen-SS panzer battalions that struggled to resist the Allied onslaught. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks. Praise for Panther Tanks &ldquo;A great book, especially for beginners and intermediate modelers, or those building their first Panther tank.&rdquo; &mdash;AMPS &ldquo;Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.&rdquo; &mdash;Military Vehicles</div>

Panther Tanks: German Army and Waffen-SS, Defence of the West, 1945

<div>A guide that blends the history behind this British World War II tank with resources for military vehicle modeling enthusiasts. In this heavily illustrated volume in the TankCraft series Dennis Oliver focuses on the Achilles&mdash;the British variant of the American M10&mdash;which was one of the most important Allied tank destroyers of the Second World War. It played a key role in the armored battles fought on the Western Front, in particular in France, the Low Countries, Germany and Italy. Built on an adapted Sherman chassis, with sloped armor, an open-topped turret and powerful 17-pounder gun, it was designed to counter the threat posed by the formidable panzers deployed by the German army toward the end of the conflict, in particular the Panther and Tiger tanks. The book covers the design and operational history of the Achilles in close detail, using rare archive photographs and meticulously researched color illustrations, as well as a detailed, authoritative text. A key section displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic armored fighting vehicles. Praise for Tank Destroyer, Achilles and M10 &ldquo;Covers the design and operational history of the Achilles in close detail, using rare archive photographs and meticulously researched color illustrations, as well as a detailed, authoritative text.&rdquo; &mdash;Military Vehicles &ldquo;Gamers will find this book a useful reference and painting guide.&rdquo; &mdash;The Miniatures Page</div>

Tank Destroyer, Achilles and M10

<div>“Concentrates on the Panzer III as operated during the invasion of the Soviet Union . . . a mixture of history, camouflage and models . . . well done.” —ModelingMadness.com The Pzkpfw III tank was the mainstay of the Panzer divisions during the Blitzkrieg era, which could fairly be said to have ended with the Germans’ failure to take Moscow in the winter of 1941. Although less heavily armored than many of its opponents and somewhat outgunned by the latest Soviet types, the Pzkpfw III was at the forefront of the advances made over almost impossible distances during the summer and autumn and provided the core of the armored reserve that fought the defensive battles of the winter months. In Dennis Oliver’s latest volume in the TankCraft series he uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Pzkpfw III and the units that operated this deservedly famous armored vehicle along a 1,000-mile front during the battles of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. A key section of his book displays available model kits and after-market products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks. “This book will prove invaluable for model makers and military historians interested in this often overlooked but important AFV. This is another great addition to the <a href="https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tank-Craft/s/88/">TankCraft</a> series and is highly recommended to all.” —Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicles Association</div>

Panzer III—German Army Light Tank

<div>“Will be of great interest to modelers that plan to build a Tiger tank and to military historians alike.” —AMPS Indianapolis By the first weeks of 1945, the Eastern Front had been pushed back to the Carpathian mountain passes in the south and Warsaw on the Vistula River in the center, while in the north, the German army was fighting in East Prussia. The Wehrmacht’s armored and mobile formations were now employed exclusively as fire brigades, rushed from one crisis to the next as the Red Army pushed inexorably westward. Critical to the German defense were the army’s heavy Panzer battalions, whose Tiger tanks, with their 8.8 cm guns, were almost invincible on the open plains of central Europe. In his latest book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy Panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Soviet armor during the last days of the conflict that culminated in the battle for Berlin. A key section of this book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to create an accurate representation of these historic tanks.</div>

Tiger I & Tiger II Tanks

<div>Death Ride of the Panzers is a unique guide to the Nazi tanks, vehicles, and crews of World War II. It features never-before-seen photographs from the US National Archives and the author's personal collection, annotated artist renderings, and detailed explanations and historical context for each collection of images. Readers will also be able to trace the combat histories of these subjects through orders of battle, maps and organizational diagrams, vehicle allocation charts, and unit biographies. The forensic approach for which Dennis Oliver is known creates a broad, comprehensive record of German soldiers and hardware from early 1944 to the end of the conflict in 1945. Death Ride of the Panzers provides the context and chronology necessary for the general reader and the primary sources and hardware specifics that appeal to the expert, making this book perfect for the readers with historical interest, modelers, and WWII alike.</div>

Dennis Oliver

Books By Dennis Oliver (14 Books)