In Panzer-Rgt./Abt.18 on the battlefield, Tom Cockle looks at this German unit and their vehicles. Many types of vehicles will appear in this book but the key role was played by the Tauchpanzers. The hardcover, landscape formatted book’s brief introduction is followed by more than a hundred mainly unpublished photographs, published in the highest possible quality. Both the introduction and the captions are bilingual (English / Hungarian).

Being volume 26 in a photobook series, there is little by way of text / narrative to read, rather the book is comprised of more than one hundred large, clear images depicting the title unit in action and during everyday life in a warzone. These images are accompanied by a couple of sentences to explain, point out a feature, or otherwise give the image context and how the scene depicted fits into the narrative. 

The introduction to the book literally just introduces Panzer-Regiment 18, Panzer-Abteilung (F) 100, and combat experience in Op. Barbarossa, with several paragraphs, which give a very overarching explanation, not an in-depth analysis or examination. 

A particular feature of this title that I appreciated is there are a couple of scenes represented by several images, or there are multiple images of the same vehicle; a real advantage when it comes to modelling. 

The vehicles are the star of the book, with images of the men and their charges, including a range of tanks, both Allied and Axis, including, among others, the Pz.A13(e) or MK IV 744(e), a.k.a. the British Cruiser Mk.IV (A 13 Mk.II). 

Easily recommended as a good read and great reference book. 

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