British Infantry Tanks in World War II (Photosniper)

This book offers very good design development and production histories of the four Infantry-type tanks of WW II: Matilda I, Matilda II, Valentine, and Churchill. There are also many black and white period photos and also color photos taken of tanks in current military museums or owned by private individuals who have restored the vehicles.The text is quite detailed, discussing subjects such as armor thicknesses and arrangements, engines, armament, and the details of the several different Marks or models of each tank. Unfortunately, there are no tabulations of dimensions, weights, or performance characteristics. There are also no combat histories but I wasn’t looking for that anyway.Several other very good books on British tanks designs of WW II are:• “Death by Design: British Tank Development in the Second World War” by Beale (2009). This one of the best books I have found on British tank design in WW Ii. It offers an excellent historical and technical account of why Britain was perpetually behind the game in designing and manufacturing tanks to match the Wehrmacht. When all is said and done--Britain never produced anything near the German Panther and Tiger tanks during the war. In fact, with the exception of the Sherman Firefly, Britain barely produced a tank equivalent to the German Panzer IV F2, G, H, or J. Chapter 3 (pages 36 – 82) provides a very detailed design history of all the British tanks of the WW II era including tanks that were designed but never manufactured, or manufactured but never deployed in combat (e.g.. “Covenanter”).• “British and American Tanks of World War II” by Chamberlain and Ellis (1981). This book offers very detailed technical discussions of British and American tank designs and derivatives based on the tank chassis such as self-propelled guns, anti-aircraft vehicles, and engineering vehicles. It includes tabulations of dimensions, weights, armor thicknesses, armament, and performance characteristics.• “Armoured Fighting Vehicles in Profile: Volume 3 British & Commonwealth AFVs 1940 – 1946” by Crow (1972). This is an excellent book on British tanks, armored cars, self-propelled guns, and tank transporters. It also includes Canadian and Australian tank designs and South African armored car designs. Finally, it includes a history of the development and combat deployment of every British, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Indian, and South African armored division, armored brigade, and tank brigade. For those of you who might not realize the difference (I didn’t), an “Armored Brigade” was a part of an armored division. A “Tank Brigade” was an independent tank formation assigned to army level; they were usually assigned to provide support to infantry divisions as needed.• “Armour in Conflict: The Design and Tactics of Armoured Fighting Vehicles” by Hogg (1980). Still a very good book on the subject, especially for its time. The chapters on interwar (1919 – 1939) tank mechanical development and military armored warfare theory were especially good.• “Design and Development of Fighting Vehicles” by Ogorkiewicz (1968). This book is just the thing for all you amateur tank and armored vehicle designers. It's definitely dated (the book was published in 1968) with regard to the tanks and vehicles it references in the discussion, but the overall design points are still valid as far as I know. In any case, it presents the thinking behind tanks designed for the World War II and post WW II eras. Chapters 1 and 2 present a brief history of tank development evolution. Chapters 3 through 8 then discuss the design and mechanical engineering development of various tank components: weapons, turrets and hulls, automotive components such as engines and transmissions, steering of tracked vehicles, evaluation of overall tank designs, and tank development project management (a surprisingly interesting topic, I thought).• “Rude Mechanicals: An Account of Tank Maturity During the Second World War” by Smithers (1987). This book offers a very critical account of British tank design and Army armored organization and armored mobile warfare practices.

イギリスの歩兵戦車に関して文章と写真、イラストで説明したものです。著者のDick Taylerはの Into the Vally: The Valentine Tank and Derivatives 1938-1960 (Green Series) 著者でもあり、ある程度手慣れた内容になっているのではと言う期待もあり購入しました。さて内容はMkⅠマチルダ、MkⅡマチルダⅡ、MkⅢヴァレンタイン、MkⅣチャーチル各戦車の開発の経緯、派生型（自走砲等は極軽く紹介するだけで戦車型が中心です）を説明するのですが、各戦車には現存車のカラー写真を提示してある程度細部をわかる様にしているのですが、何故かマチルダⅡの写真はありません。ヴァレンタインはレストアしたMkⅢの写真9頁、チャーチルは英国内の沼に沈んでいたMkⅡの胴体装備機銃を撤去して跡にダミーの3インチ砲を装備しMkⅠとした車体5頁、そしてMkⅠマチルダの写真が本書の最後の方に22頁（この中には走行可能状態に復元された車体と用廃後に実弾射撃の的になり弾痕だらけになった車体）纏めて掲載され、更に巻末にはカラー側面図6頁12枚（最後の頁は裏表紙に印刷されています）が用意されているという形です。文章自体は要領良く纏められていて一晩で読み切ることができました。イラストもMkⅠマチルダの工具配置図やマチルダⅡの車内配置図、チャーチルⅧの砲塔内イラスト、8.8㎝砲を含むドイツ対戦車砲の射撃を受けた乗員の被害レポートと図等興味深いものもありますが、こちらには体系的な収録では無くやや散漫な印象です。　2ポンド砲にも榴弾が作られたそうですが威力不足で部隊には配備されなかったそうです。一方で Firing Now!: Tank, Anti-Tank and Self-Propelled Artillery Ammunition UK & USA 1939-1945 (Green) ではこの榴弾は海軍の対空砲2ポンドポンポン砲の炸裂弾を基に開発され、装輪装甲車では使用したとの話も紹介されています。更に実戦でも使用したが、その威力不足が確認されたとの話（ Death by Design の111頁の写真キャプション）もあり、謎も残ります。歩兵戦車として開発されたものの、その様な局面で運用されることは無くマチルダⅡもヴァレンタインも準巡航戦車として活用された話等興味深い話も多いだけに収録情報のバラつきが残念です。 Into the Vally: The Valentine Tank and Derivatives 1938-1960 (Green Series)Firing Now!: Tank, Anti-Tank and Self-Propelled Artillery Ammunition UK & USA 1939-1945 (Green)Death by Design

as allways great books