The contents of the book:
1. Design Concepts
2. World War I and the R.E. Tank
3. World War II The AVRI Concept
4. Churchill AVRI Devices
5. Post-War Concepts
6. Centurion AVRI The Best Platform
7. Centurion AVRI in the Gulf War
8. Chieftain The Next Generation
9. Into the Future
10. AFV Club Line Drawings
It should be noted that there are a considerable number of sub headers underneath the main headings.
This book the shortest gap is authored by Micheal E. Orsbourn and published by Trackpad Publishing. The contents of the book are presented to the reader over 163 pages. The book gives us a short introduction to the Royal Engineers prior to their introduction to military vehicles and so starts a more in depth look at World War I following the short history pre-vehicle. Apparently the Royal Engineers had quite a bit of input into the early tank models, but more importantly covers aspects of how their specific vehicles should look and the perfect procedures under which they would operate. While I cannot find anything saying so, I suspect that the perfect procedure rarely ended up being followed. The primary role of the Engineers in World War I was how to cross trenches in heavy mechanised vehicles without being stuck in the trench. I know from memory, that while the Fascines were a successful procedure, the Germans got over the problem of the tank by widening their trenches making crossing them an extremely difficult task. One of the other issues the Royal Engineers had to resolve was how to get a tank moving that had become bogged down in the mud. The solution was simplicity itself, in the form of a balk of Oak timber with chains attached, the chains were then attached to the tracks and as the tracks rotated so the timber would catch on whatever the tank was stuck on and force it forwards. There are photographs in the book showing the Mark I tank assigned to the Royal Engineers with the beginnings of a bridge deployment method. The images continue to show the tank having deployed the bridge and crossing it itself.
I have a suspicion that many of the people who purchase this title, will be interested in World War II modifications mostly as part of the funnies and the high number of Churchill tanks that were modified to overcome many of the problems that units came across. The Royal Engineers are one of those regiments of the British army that could find themselves assisting troops of both British and friendly forces of foreign nations. They could also find themselves operating with the Navy, the Air force or Royal Marines. This provides the modeller with a wide number of options when it comes to displaying a modified Engineers vehicle, plus settings they wish to create. The funnies vehicles are probably best known for their bridge laying abilities and coastal landing vehicle designs. However, I particularly like the section looking at the use of the petard and its use to destroy heavy fortifications.
The use of Cold War armoured vehicles is well covered in the title, especially the use of modified Centurions in the Gulf War and the Chieftain also makes an appearance in the modified vehicles. With the demise of the Chieftain and Centurion the Royal Engineers began to be issued with modified Challenger tank bodies, which were used for similar roles. However, the Trojan modifications are particularly stunning in operation. The title finishes with some beautifully presented line drawings in 1/48th and 1/35th scale, covering primarily the Churchill modifications. However some Centurion modifications are at the very end of the title. This book is a stunning reference for modellers interested in the vehicles used by the Royal Engineers, in particular the use of the Churchill tank and a huge number of modifications that made it onto them in World War II. A very pleasing book, that has plenty to read, pictures to learn from and how these vehicles were utilised.
Go to https://www.trackpadpublishing.com/ for further details.