Zenith Press

Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II

by  George Forty

Reviewed By  James Kelley, IPMS# 42106

MSRP: $21.99 ISBN: 0760330492 Website: www.zenithpress.com It was in Tunisia that the Allies first encountered the fearsome Tiger tank--when rounds from a 75mm artillery gun fired from a mere 50 meters away bounced off the side of the German monster. It was no wonder that the fearsome vehicle, despite its design flaws and unwieldy size, quickly gained an aura of invincibility. This book is the first to tell the story of the Tiger tank in battle. With over 100 photographs, the book brings to life the combat service of the German army's independent Tiger tank companies. From the development of a prototype for Hitlers birthday in 1942, to the tank's role at Leningrad, Tunisia, and Kursk, the book follows the fate of this most feared weapon of World War II--till it quite literally ran out of fuel at the Battle of the Bulge. Part of the "Spearhead" series published by the Zenith Press, this highly informative and lavishly illustrated book chronicles the story of the German Tiger tank during World War II. Although their number was limited and they were plagued by mechanical problems, these heavy tanks were always feared by the opponent when they were deployed in combat. George Forty, the curator of the Bovington Tank Museum in England, has created an all encompassing text that covers the origin and history of the Panzer Kampfwagen VI, or Tiger, tank and its development into a premier fighting machine. The bulk of the book addresses where the Tiger battalions actually saw combat during the war. This is followed by shorter chapters on "Equipment & Insignia" and "Personalities". A concluding section assesses the Tiger's effectiveness and discusses the tank's strengths and weaknesses. The inclusion of 25 color and 75 black and white photos, 10 maps and diagrams, and a short reference section makes this a book anyone interested in the use of armor in World War II will want to read and add to his library. A British army officer in the Royal Tank Regiment, Forty knows his subject matter intimately. The author of fifty books, mostly on military history, the author is not only knowledgeable but his prose is also straightforward and flows easily. For the price, you won't find a better or more detailed volume that gives the particulars of the German battalions that employed the famed Tiger tank during World War II. Recommended! My thanks to Zenith Press and IPMS/USA for the review copy.