WW2 Vehicles Through the Lens Vol. 5
Tom Cockle
Peko Publishing 2025
ISBN: 9786156602299
New from Peko Publishing is the latest volume in the WW2 VehiclesThrough the Lens series, by Tom Cockle. The book is comprised of 121 pages, printed on high quality glossy paper in A5 format. Each page contains a single black-and-white period photo, with a corresponding caption.
Like previous volumes in the series, this one deals with a specific set of subjects – either vehicles, units or theaters of operation.This volume covers:
· Steyr RSO
· Austria in 1945
· Saurer RK-7 (Sd.Kfz.254)
· Sturmgeschütz -Abteilung 203
· M10 Tank Destroyer in French service
Part 1 devotes 20 pages to the RSO, with coverage of the RSO/1, RSO/3 and RSO/4 (PaK 40) variants.
Part 2 covers the Austrian campaign in 1945, in 40 pages. The photos here include a wide variety of German and Allied vehicles, including Tigers, Panthers and Pz.IVs, Soviet Lend-Lease Shermans, a T-34/85, armored cars, SPGs, artillery and softskins from both sides, and even a Beutepanzer Renault R35.
Part 3 is devoted to the unusual Sd.Kfz.254 (Saurer RK-7) vehicle, with 20 pages. This wheeled/tracked vehicle was developed by Saurer in Austria as an artillery tractor but subsequently taken over by Nazi Germany when Austria was annexed in 1938. 140 vehicles saw service with the Germans in France, the Balkans, North Africa and Russia.
Part 4 deals with Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 203, also in 20 pages. This unit was formed in February 1941 and served until February 1944 when it was renamed Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 203. The unit served on the Eastern Front for its entire existence.
Part 5, in the final 19 pages, covers the US M10 Tank Destroyer in Free French service. The Free French were the first Allied (non-American) army to use the M10, and received 155 under Lend-Lease, though more were transferred from US Army stocks. The book includes photographs of M10s in Tunisia, Italy, France and Austria.
In summary, this is another well-illustrated volume from Tom Cockle and Peko Publishing. It provides a useful photographic reference for modelers and fans of WW2 vehicles.
Highly recommended.