In December 1941, a shipment of M3 tanks (medium and light tanks), the latest and still unproven products of the US arms industry, arrived in Murmansk. Quickly deployed in combat, these American designs had to face the Panzer IV, originally conceived as a close-support tank but further developed based on combat experience gained in Poland, France, and North Africa. In this study, tank expert Peter Samsonov describes the origins, development, strengths, and weaknesses of these very different tank types. He explains how, after their defeat at Moscow in the summer of 1942, the Germans regained ground and turned their attention south toward Stalingrad. This led to some of the bloodiest battles of the Second World War. After the devastating losses of 1941, the Red Army's armored forces had to use inexperienced crews and, in many respects, unfamiliar tanks to counter an enemy with highly advanced tanks and experienced crews. The author's insightful analysis is supplemented by archival photographs, colored maps and specially created illustrations that depict these tank types in combat on the Eastern Front.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Samsonov, Peter/Chasemore, Richard (Illustr.)
Title
M3 Tank vs Panzer IV
Details
English text, numerous black and white and color illustrations, some color plates. 80 pages.
