Der Strabokran: German Gantry Crane 1942-45 Hardcover – 1 April 2011

This book is primarily about the mobile cranes used by the German field maintenance units during WWII.If you are expecting photos just about cranes you'd be wrong, most photos show the cranes in action so there are a large number of equally interesting panzer photos which show interesting rarely seen details.There is also the only collection of photos of the make shift crane constructed by Tiger Battalion 508 in Italy, to my knowledge these photos have never been published before.If you have any of the Panzerwrecks books or the equally excellent Repairing The Panzers book by the same publisher you will like this and I consider it a must buy.This book is worth every penny of your money, buy it.

If you have just bought the model kits by Takom, this is essential reading if you wish to understand the construction and use of these cranes. There are some excellent reference photographs of the crane in action, and very informative line drawings. One of the best reference books I have read.

well worth the money! a great read and reference to this iconic piece of engineering well documented and plenty of original photo's including diagrams etc.

A well-read friend of mine raised an eyebrow when I said I had bought this book, " A book about a crane?" said he.Not so daft when you think about it as nothing mechanical runs without being serviced and maintained and tanks demand some lifting gear to get inside them.Anyone who has been to the Overlord Museum will have seen the Panther & gantry set up they have and it was having seen this several times which prompted me to buy this book.The photos are very good and the exposed elements of the AFVs tracks, engines, turrets, the often basic and exposed working areas are all worth seeing and considering.The structure and limitations of the gantries are explained and seen in photos and plan views and as well as the specified equipment there is in the background the pragmatic problem-solving approach to difficulties encountered "in the field".The servicing and field repair of tanks was an important part of life , this books makes a contribution towards explaining this.

Loads of photos, use within the armoured units and issue to them. Just the level of info for building a werkstat kompanie of a panzerdivision or heavy (Tiger) tank battalion.

Volker's books are always great value for money.SF.

excellent!

good