The latest edition of Panzerwrecks is number28 and, for the first time, is not devoted to German vehicles. This time the focus is on British vehicles.
The book retains its softback format, in landscape orientation, measuring 21 by 28 centimetres. It comprises 128 pages, plus the inside front and back covers, which are also used for information and photographs.
The index of vehicles, units and locations is printed on a separate page.
As on previous occasions, the book’s central theme is vehicles taken out of service, whether due to accidents, breakdowns or, more frequently, shell impacts. Despite the title ‘British’, this is not entirely accurate, as the book also includes Canadian, Polish and New Zealand vehicles. The book is written by Lee Archer and Dick Taylor, who is a Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) of the Royal Tank Regiment, a book author and the official historian of the Royal Armoured Corps. It also features illustrations by Felipe Rodna, who has created seven colour plates based on photographs that are included.
The photographs generally take up a full page, except for a few where there are two per page and, in a few cases, others that are slightly smaller. In any case, they are large enough to allow you to see all the details. They are also generally very clear and sharp. On several occasions, the photographs form part of a series, so it is possible to find different views of the same scene or vehicle.
The most common vehicle in the book is the Sherman, although there are also Cromwells, Churchills, Stuarts, Valentines and others. The photographs were taken in France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. There are no photographs of the BEF in 1940 or of the African campaign.
There are photographs of complete vehicles or close-ups of specific areas, either on their own or in groups, or even of scrapyards full of vehicles. Some vehicles are in fairly good condition, whilst others are completely destroyed, lying on their sides or overturned, with impact damage and burn marks. As you can see, there is a wide range of variations in the condition of the vehicles.
One advantage of the large size of most of the photos is the amount of detail that can be seen. This is particularly noticeable in the photos of scrapyards, where many vehicles and parts are gathered together. It is a book to return to time and again, discovering new things in the photos each time.
As usual with Panzerwrecks, the photos feature very detailed captions; it is astonishing how much information the authors manage to glean from each image.
Conclusion
An excellent and varied collection of photographs of British, Polish, Canadian and New Zealand vehicles. Provided they are out of service – whether due to breakdowns or enemy action – a wide range of vehicles are presented in a multitude of conditions and situations. The photographs are generally very clear and large, often full-page. The captions are very detailed and provide a wealth of information.