Panzer IV: Pzkpfw Ausf a - J (Tanks in Detail) [Paperback]

Jonathan Forty (Author), George Forty (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tanks in Detail | Publication Date: October 2002

During World War 2 the combatants produced countless types of tanks, military transport, self-propelled guns and other specialised military transport for use against the enemy. Some of these types were successful; others were less so. But all, however, played a role in the unfolding drama of the war. One of the mainstays of the German Panzer armies during the war was the Panzerkamfwagon (Pzkw) IV; uniquely for a German tank, it was the only example in service and production throughout the war. As such it played a role in every campaign in which the Wehrmacht was involved and saw service in all theatres of operation. A highly potent and successful tank at the start of the war, when it was able to destroy vast numbers of Allied tanks in France, North Africa and on the Eastern Front, the Panzer IV was gradually overtaken by Allied tank developments, such as the T-34. Designed with the modeller, preservationist and wargamer in mind, Ian Allan Publishing's new 'In Detail' series is intended to provide the reader with a comprehensive history of the type of tank, self-propelled gun and military transport featured. Each volume will include a detailed history of the unit in service, along with information on variants, markings, unit allocations etc. Alongside the comprehensive illustrative section, which will include details shots of models in colour, the books will also include scale drawings and comprehensive guidance notes on camouflage.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jonathan Forty lives in Dorset and is the author of a number of books and has actively assisted his father in recent years in researching and compiling books on a range of military subjects. George Forty served in the Royal Tank Regiment, where he reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After active service, he took over as curator of the Tank Museum and began a second career as one of the Britain's foremost military historians. He is the author of numerous books on military history including, for Ian Allan Publishing, Channel Islands at War, The Battle of Crete and, due in late 2002, Fortress Europe.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711029318
• ISBN-13: 978-0711029316
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,056,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Little Book For The Money, August 7, 2005

By 

Penelope Heathcliff Barnaby "Writer" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panzer IV: Pzkpfw Ausf a - J (Tanks in Detail) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book on the workhorse of the Panzerwaffe, the Panzer IV. A nice history is included, but the strength of the book is in the drawings and photos. We get excellent break downs of components such as suspension, track links, gun breech and interiors shots. There are also color plates showing various camoflage patterns as well as unit IDs, etc.

While there have been many books published on more popular vehicles such as the Tiger, the Panzer IV has received little attention. This great book goes a long way to rectifying that. The size is an added plus: it's small enough to have on your workbench as a reference without becoming a space liability.

Note that this book only really covers the turreted versions of the Panzer IV. If you're looking for info on the Jagdpanzer IV, you'll have to pick up the Tanks In Detail book covering Jagdpanzers.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Panzer IV ausf A - J, September 4, 2006

By 

Hernani S. Oliveira Filho "Panzer4" (São Paulo, SP Brasil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panzer IV: Pzkpfw Ausf a - J (Tanks in Detail) (Paperback)

This is a book that explains every version of the panzer IV and give a general view in drawings and combat experience, the part of transmition and engine os very good.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource guide for the historian or modeler., June 26, 2005

By 

Martin J. Macary "Read everything and anything." (Wolcott, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panzer IV: Pzkpfw Ausf a - J (Tanks in Detail) (Paperback)

Jonathan Forty's book on the Pzkpw IV is chock full of photographs useful to both the historian and the scale modeler.

The book is divided into chapters covering design development history, chassis-engines-tracks, turret-fighting compartment, armament, marking and Panzer insignia and line drawings.

The author produces Tank magazine in Great Britain, the offical publication of the Royal Tank Regiment.

There are detailed photos on every page of the book with text explainations of every photo. This book provides a great background for people interested in armor development and details for scale modelers.