Jagdtiger: The Most Powerful Armoured Fighting Vehicle of World War II: TECHNICAL HISTORY (Schiffer Military History) [Hardcover]

Andy Devey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Schiffer Military History | Publication Date: January 1, 2004

This new two volume study of Germany's heaviest Jagdpanzer (tank destroyer) is the result of nearly twenty years of exhaustive research.Volume one, Technical History, presents a well-structured and highly detailed technical analysis of this complex tank destroyer. Using manufacturer's documentation, drawings, and photographs combined with Intelligence analysis, this work details the origin, design, construction and assembly of the vehicle. The armor, armaments, engine, transmission, suspension systems, electrical and optical equipment, together with the operation and maintenance procedures are included to complete this definitive analysis.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764307509
• ISBN-13: 978-0764307508
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,430,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Jagdtiger, January 29, 2000

By 

Michael K. Tanigawa (Sunnyvale CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jagdtiger: The Most Powerful Armoured Fighting Vehicle of World War II: TECHNICAL HISTORY (Schiffer Military History) (Hardcover)

This book will be welcomed by the armored vehicle enthusiasts who have tired of the hobby store pictorial books written for boys. There are quite a number of photographs and technical details which are not published in any other mass-marketed book.

It was however disappointing that after "20 years of exhaustive research" the author was still unable to improve upon his predecessors' description of the Tiger's steering mechanism as the following formidable paragraph illustrates.

"Steering was effected by imposing different speeds on the sun wheel of an epicyclic, whose annulus was positively driven by a bevel meshing with the main gearbox output bevel, and whose planet carrier carried the output flange to the final drive."

There is a schematic diagram of the steering unit which only adds to the confusion. Apparently the theory of operation is so difficult to comprehend much less explain, that every author has skirted it and hoped that the reader would not be the wiser.

Knowing all of this, I went ahead and ordered the book anyway. It does make excellent reading even though the scholarship could be improved.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An issue with this book, December 11, 1999

By 

David Byrden "of Tiger1.info" (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jagdtiger: The Most Powerful Armoured Fighting Vehicle of World War II: TECHNICAL HISTORY (Schiffer Military History) (Hardcover)

I don't have the background to assess most of this book, but there's one item that falls into my area of knowledge and it's a problem.
This book, about the Jadgtiger, contains some material from manuals describing a different vehicle. Its source is not given.
The author has copied some wording and a full-page diagram from the British report on Tiger 1 tank. It describes an engine fan which was unique to Tiger I, therefore the material has nothing to do with Jagdtiger and does not belong in this book. The author really should understand that not all "tiger" series tanks had swappable components!
I'm particularly puzzled that he prints a photo of a small, small valve in the Jagdtiger and basically says "there's the fan I was talking about". They don't even look similar!