A blend of first-person perspectives and digital artwork chart the progress of the two greatest tanks of...

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	• Panther vs T-34: Ukraine 1943 (Duel) Robert Forczyk Osprey Publishing, 2007 - 80 pages average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Learn why T-34 mobility counted for more than Panther firepower

I enjoyed this book and learned a great deal from it. As a 1970's era wargamer, I always saw the Panther as superior, given the higher combat factors assigned it in the famous wargame Panzerblitz. Yet the author makes a convincing case that the T-34's outstanding mobility counted for far more than the Panther's admittedly impressive firepower. While a Panther could usually best a T-34 in a one-on-one encounter, Panthers were always outnumbered. Panthers were also seriously unreliable, at least in 1943. This made a big difference, allowing the Soviets to transfer entire tank corps over distances greater than 100 kilometers, while Panthers had to be hauled any significant distance by railroad. The T-34's advantage in operational mobility was extremely helpful, and maybe even decisive, as the tide turned in Russia during 1943. When the Germans tried to retreat with Panthers under their own power over long distances, breakdowns were frequent. As a result, more Panthers were blown up to prevent capture than were lost in combat. And the Germans were retreating more than advancing by the latter half of 1943.

This finely detailed book made the Russian front interesting to me despite a preference for other parts of World War II. It gives details on the design history of these two tanks, as well as insight into crew training and day-to-day life. The author also gives a detailed analysis of a duel in the Kursk campaign. Graphic quality is very good. Few of the Osprey books are as well-researched as this one. Whether you are a casual reader interested in tanks or a serious student of armored warfare, this title is a "must read."

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An excellent overview

An excellent overview of both machines in 1943. I was quite impressed with the quality of the writing & art work. What impressed me even further was the inclusion of a bibliography. Many Osprey titles suffer from the lack of one; which leads the reader to wonder where the author got his information. Not this one though, Dr.Forczyk has obviously researched his subject carefully.

A must for anyone interested in the history of these two AFVs.

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A blend of first-person perspectives and digital artwork chart the progress of the two greatest tanks of World War II.

Robert Forczyk's PANTHER VS. T-34: UKRAINE 1943 is a pick for any military library focusing on equipment and action. A blend of first-person perspectives and digital artwork chart the progress of the two greatest tanks of World War II. Three new to the `Warrior' imprint are picks for military libraries specializing in early combat history.

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Panther is mostly remembered for her looks

In its 79 pages, this fine & richly illustrated American book makes a thorough comparison between the German 'Panther' and its Russian counterpart 'T 34'.

Being only partially better than T 34, Panther's main flaw was its mechanical weakness. No doubt Josef Stalin was greatly helped by the many Panthers that got out of action without ever engaging his much more reliable T 34's. Obviously Panther's designers valued their own vanity more.

That brings us to the only overall-superiority Panther enjoys over T 34: the beauty of its looks. Panther surely makes a magnificent example of 1940's industrial design. Unfortunately that isn't decisive for winning a war.

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Small but excellent book on armored warfare.

"Panther vs. T-34" gives readers the story of the epic showdown between two legendary tanks. The Russian T-34 met the German panther for the first time in the brutal battles in Southern Russia and the Ukraine. By the end of 1943, the flawed but powerful panthers had destroyed droves of Soviet tanks, but ultimately Soviet strenght prevailed. The book is thin, but contains quite a bit of information in a very readable form. The production of the vechicles is described as are the armored battles in which they faced each other. Additional features include brief descriptions of tank commanders and two interesting computer generated images of the tanks targeting one another. The book has numerous photos of the vechicles, including some I haven't noticed in other books. There is only one piece of artwork depicting an engagement, but it is very well done (much more detailed than the one featured in the "Duel" book featuring the firefly and tiger I). Overall, I recommend it to anyone interested in World War II armored vechiles or the epic tragedy called the Eastern Front.

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reviews: page 1, 2

Robert A. Forczyk provides a riveting and intense description of the design and development of these two deadly opponents, the Panther and the T-34, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses and describing their tactics, weaponry and training. Moreover he gives an insight into the lives of the tank crews themselves, who were caught up in the largest land conflict of World War II, in some of the most important engagements in the history of warfare.

Innovative digital artwork and first-person perspectives place the reader in the midst of a duel between the titans of the Soviet and German armed forces in a ruthless and relentless death match that would determine the war on the Eastern Front and, indeed, the fate of Nazi Germany.

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