Volume 8-1 of the Panzer Tracts series is one of the first three volumes of the renowned series chosen for re-release by Panzerwrecks. As it has been unavailable for several years, this review will treat it as new for those unfamiliar with it.
First Look.
The book is in A4 portrait format, with a soft cover and 76 pages on high quality glossy paper. Written by Hilary Louis Doyle, Lukas Friedli and Thomas L. Jentz, this volume focuses on the Sturmpanzer as well as its predecessor, the Sturminfateriegeschütz 33, and the ammunition carrier that often accompanied it.
It contains a good deal of text on the development, production and use of these vehicles, accompanied by numerous large photographs: most are half page and some even full page.
As usual in this series, the pages are used to the maximum, with even the insides of the front and back covers being used to provide information and photos.
There are also several pages of detailed 1/35 scale plans like the rest of the series. The whole book is based on original sources, which makes it very reliable and contrasts all the information mentioned above. For example, the introduction on the first page dispels the myth of the name, as the authors have not been able to find any original reference to this vehicle being called Brummbär.
In Detail
After the introduction, the first eight pages are devoted to the Sturmpanzer's predecessors, which used the same sIG 33 gun. It deals mainly with the Sturminfateriegeschütz 33, with a short history and some photos.
It then moves on to the main subject of the book, the Sturmpanzer, with a history of its production. The objectives of this weapon, the requirements, the intervention of Hitler himself in its development and the factories responsible are detailed.
The photos in this section include some of the factory assembly, plus some exceptionally clear shots of finished but not yet delivered vehicles, and three spectacular interior shots.
The 1/35 drawings section is another of the book's great attractions. There are 19 pages of drawings by Hilary Louis Doyle, including the Sturminfateriegeschütz 33 in two versions, the Sturmpanzer in its various Ausf I, II, III and IV variants, as well as the command and Ammunition carrier versions.
Front, rear, side and top views are shown for all main variants. For the Command Vehicle the front views have been omitted as it is identical to the standard vehicle. In many cases the side views are shown with and without schürzen.
These very detailed and reliable drawings make it possible to check and detail any model, as well as to build conversions.
The drawings also make it easy to see the differences between versions.
Page 49 gives production and acceptance figures by month and factory, as well as some interesting production notes. Again, the following photos are exceptionally sharp.
The next section is Units and Organisation, a description of the wartime actions of the various battalions that were equipped with these vehicles. Also included is a list of each unit's deliveries by month and even day where known. The photographs are numerous and of good quality, some of them full page.
Next are two pages of performance evaluations from German Army reports or provided by captured crews.
Finally there is an specific section on the ammunition carrier version, with two very clear factory photos and two more in combat.
The new edition of Panzerwrecks
This new edition goes beyond a simple reprint, it is now a binded book rather than stapled, the layout has been improved, the typography has also been updated and is now more readable. Although the text does not appear to have been changed and there are no new photographs, the design allows for some images to have been printed in a slightly larger size. They also have been processed to make them sharper and clearer.
Conclusion
An excellent and reliable reference for the Sturmpanzer, with a good number of photos, useful information and accurate drawings.
This volume, apart from being available again, now looks better thanks to the improvements on design and images made by Panzerwrecks.