0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Basic info only, 2006-07-01
This book has very detailed technical specs and performance data which is complete. Unfortunately the photographs fall short in the detail department (especially close-ups of the
attachments/mounting points, external details) which are useful for anyone doing a replica, which is 90% of the reason for purchase.The side profiles are basic line drawings without the overhead, left,right,front and rear views that provide needed details.
But for the price you get general info that is available for free on the internet as well as B/W photos(that could be enhanced for better clarity) and 3-5 artist renderings(very excellent). Over all a good value for the price.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Another Zaloga Masterwork, 2004-02-02
I'm very impressed with the developmental details leading up to the M26 Pershing tank, and the preponderance of incredibly crisp photographs are simply amazing. I recognize many Korean War pictures from Jim Mesko's Armor in Korea, and the clarity of the same photos in Zaloga's book is a night-and-day difference.Again, plentiful details on World War Two deployment, from Operation Zebra to the close of hostilities. Just a little more detail on the immediate post-war disposition of these tanks would have been appreciated.
After such intricate coverage of the Pershing's development, even including self-propelled artillery derivatives that weren't put into production, the M46 Patton and M26A1 modifications appear rushed and lacking in essential details. I can't blame Zaloga for not including exact production quantities except 360 M46A1s, as other sources can't seem to pin those numbers down either. One thing I definitely would have appreciated was information on which models served with which units with the occupation forces in Germany, and when they were withdrawn.
The Korean War gets multi-page coverage, but outside of initial deployment during 1950 there is insufficient information on units that traded in Chaffees and Shermans for Pershings and Pattons, or specifics on the withdrawal of Pershings other than "the M26 had been declared 'limited standard' before the outbreak of the Korean War and was retired from service shortly after" (p.42). Shortly after the war, or after the outbreak of the war? How many M45 close support howitzer tanks served in that war, and when were they withdrawn? Did the M46 Patton replace both the Sherman and the Pershing, and if so, when? "The M46 and M46A1 were declared obsolete in February 1957 and were retired from service..." does not illustrate the fact that M46s continued to serve in reduced numbers with battle group assault gun platoons after the two remaining divisions in-theater were reorganized to the Pentomic structure in 1957. Of course that's picking nits in a ten dollar book, but these nits prevent me from giving a full five stars to an otherwise excellent book on the development and service of the M26 Pershing and M46 Patton.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
A good value for the money, 2002-09-24
The M26 Pershing was the US Army's belated answer to the German Panther and Tiger tanks. Until the invasion of France the US thought their "Tank Destroyer" arm would defend against Nazi armor while the obsolescent Sherman tank would be used to exploit breakthroughs. The close fighting in the hedgerow country of Normandy showed the flaws in this policy and urgent requests went out for a better armed and better protected tank. The Ordnance dDepartment's answer was the T26E3 (later M26) which had been in development. The tank, nicknamed "Pershing", was rushed into production and early examples arrived in Europe late in the war. The Pershing also proved to be a powerful asset in Korea when facing the Soviet T34 tanks used by North Korea.
The recent release of a model of America's M26 Pershing tank led to several new books coming out on this little-know armored vehicle. If I have to choose only one of the new crop I would pick this one. Mr. Zaloga is a dedicated researcher and is very knowledgeable on combat vehicles and their histories. In a thumbnail Zaloga traces development of the new tank and then looks at how the Pershing was used in WW2 and Korea.
For a modest price the reader gets a history of the tank and color scheme information. The Osprey Vanguards are not meant to be the "final word" on any vehicle, but serve as modestly priced, readily available references. This is one of the best in that series.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
No skeletons, 2002-07-27
This tank could have made a great diferens in een early ending of the war. This book makes this statement.
The pictures are of an high detail.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Quite a good book but. . ., 2001-06-20
it still takes a back-seat to R. P. Hunnicut's exhaustive and complete book, "Pershing: a History of the Medium Tank".
What this slender book does have is some good info (little of which is new) and a lot of excellent, clear pictures. It's an excellent reference on the tank and a worthy addition to the series.