Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Members can discuss or post books on any weapon of war used during WW2.

If anyone has a favourite WW2 weapon that they wish to discuss or mention a book about, this is the place to do it. It can be a firearm, tank, plane, ship or even a weapon system like Kamikazes, snipers, etc.

OK, to start off, how about the sniper as a weapon of war?

Here are a few books on the subject in case anyone is interested:

by Vassili Zaitsev
Description:
'As a sniper, I've killed more than a few Nazis. I have a passion for observing enemy behavior. You watch a Nazi officer come out of a bunker, acting all high and mighty, ordering his soldiers every which way, and putting on an air of authority. The officer hasn't got the slightest idea that he only has seconds to live.'
Vassili Zaitsev's account of the hell that was Stalingrad is moving and harrowing. This was a battle to the death - fighting street by street, brick by brick, living like rats in a desperate struggle to survive. Here, the rules of war were discarded and a psychological war was being waged. In this environment, the sniper was king - an unseen enemy who frayed the nerves of brutalized soldiers.Zaitsev volunteered to fight at Stalingrad in 1942. His superiors recognized quickly his talent, and made him a sniper. He adapted his hunting skills to the ruins of the city, watching his prey with nerves of steel. In his first 10 days, Zaitsev killed 40 Germans. He achieved at least 225 kills and the tactics he developed are still being studied. Zaitsev was used a symbol of Russian resistance against the Nazis. His exploits, including a famous 'duel' with a Nazi sniper, remain the stuff of legend. His account is absorbing to anyone interested in World War II and seeing how one person could survive in the most extreme of conditions.

Reviews:
"...gives an on-the-ground account of what it was like to be one of Stalingrad's defenders... Both moving and harrowing, this book will appeal to any reader interested in the Second World War." - Book News Inc

"Much has been written about the Battle for Stalingrad, but nothing as interesting as this volume by a sniper who was wounded several times, buried alive in a sealed bunker with a number of dead Russian soldiers, and given the permission to start a school for snipers." - Gun Week

"...Zaitsev's legendary efforts made him a symbol of Russian resistance against the Nazi's, and his own words reveal how a dedicated and determined man could hold out and fight back even in the most severe situations...highly recommended especially for college library, military history, and military biography collections." - The Midwest Book Review

"... of interest to sniper buffs..." - Soldier of Fortune

by Joseph Pilyushin
Description:
Joseph Pilyushin, a top Red Army sniper in the ruthless fight against the Germans on the Eastern Front, was an exceptional soldier and he has a remarkable story to tell. His firsthand account of his wartime service gives a graphic insight into his lethal skill with a rifle and into the desperate fight put up by Soviet forces to defend Leningrad. He also records how, during the three-year siege, close members of this family died, including his wife and two sons, as well as many of his comrades in arms. He describes these often-terrible events with such honesty and clarity that his memoir is remarkable.

Piluyshin, who lived in Leningrad with his family, was already 35 years old when the war broke out and he was drafted. He started in the Red Army as a scout, but once he had demonstrated his marksmanship and steady nerve, he became a sniper. He served throughout the Leningrad siege, from the late 1941 when the Wehrmacht's advance was halted just short of the city to its liberation during the Soviet offensive of 1944.

His descriptions of grueling front-line life, of his fellow soldiers and of his sniping missions are balanced by his vivid recollections of the protracted suffering of Leningrad's imprisoned population and of the grief that was visited upon him and his family.

His gripping narrative will be fascinating reading for any one who is keen to learn about the role and technique of the sniper during the Second World War. It is also a memorable eyewitness account of one man's experience on the Eastern Front.

by Bruno Sutkus
Description:
Throughout World War II, German snipers were obliged to carry a 'Scharfshutzen Buch' which recorded every kill. Each success noted had to be verified by a witness and signed by a superior officer.The journal of Sutkus is one of only a few such books to have survived the war. It records more than 200 kills, placing him as one of the war's most successful snipers. A large part of his journal is reproduced for the first time here.

As a Hitler Youth member his skill as a marksman was quickly noted and, in July 1943, aged 19, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht. A month later he was sent on a five month sniper's course in Wilna, after which he was posted to the Eastern Front.

He was so successful that his superiors sent him to crucial positions. Despite his age, he was regarded as one of Germany's best snipers and in November 1944 he was awarded the Scharfshutzenabzeichen 3 Stufe - the highest award for a sniper.

After being wounded in January 1945, Sutkus was given time to recuperate away from the Eastern Front. During this time he met a Red Cross nurse, to whom he gave all his journal.

When the war finished, Sutkus was forced to join the Red Army. He deserted to join the Lithuanian resistance fighters. After being captured again he was tortured by the KGB and deported to Siberia to endure forced labor. It was not until the collapse of the Soviet Union that he was able return to Germany and find his journal, still in the hands of the same nurse.

Reviews:
"As a sniper myself for many years I have always sought to learn from those who went before me, from all countries. This book provides a unique and fascinating in-depth look at the day to day life of an operational sniper. For many years the skill and the bravery of the Wehrmacht sniper has gone unrecorded. With this book we see inside his experiences for the first time and it is a read that I would strongly recommend to any current sniper. A truly fascinating look at the trials and tribulations of one mans war when the world was at war around him." - Mark Spicer, (author of the Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills)

"It's extremely rare to find a first-hand account by one of Germany's most accomplished World War II snipers but rarer yet, this memoir incorporates his actual wartime shooting logbook, documenting 207 kills. Fascinating and tragic, especially the post-war decades he spent in the Soviet gulag." - Major John L. Plaster, U.S. Army Special Forces, (author, 'The Ultimate Sniper' and 'The History of Sniping and Sharpshooting.')

"The best first-person German sniper account of World War Two I have read, well documented and illustrated, a fascinating story" - Tim Newark, (editor, Military Illustrated magazine)

by Albrecht Wacker
Description:
Josef "Sepp" Allerberger was the second most successful sniper of the German Wehrmacht and one of the few private soldiers to be honoured with the award of the Knight's Cross.
An Austrian conscript, after qualifying as a machine gunner he was drafted to the southern sector of the Russian Front in July 1942. Wounded at Voroshilovsk, he experimented with a Russian sniper-rifle while convalescing and so impressed his superiors with his proficiency that he was returned to the front on his regiment's only sniper specialist.

In this sometimes harrowing memoir, Allerberger provides an excellent introduction to the commitment in fieldcraft, discipline and routine required of the sniper, a man apart. There was no place for chivalry on the Russian Front. Away from the film cameras, no prisoner survived long after surrendering. Russian snipers had used the illegal explosive bullet since 1941, and Hitler eventually authorised its issue in 1944. The result was a battlefield of horror.

Allerberger was a cold-blooded killer, but few will find a place in their hearts for the soldiers of the Red Army against whom he fought.

Review:
" ..... a very unique story and experience worth telling of an Eastern Front Sniper." - Sniper Central

A few more books on snipers and their weapons from WW2:

by Albrecht Wacker
Description:
Volume 7 of the Propaganda Photo Series describes and depicts the development of the sniper rifle in the German army. After a short introduction on the early developments up to World War I and the era of the Reichswehr, this book gives a detailed description of the German sniper rifles in World War II. Apart from the several models of the G98 and the K98k sniper rifles, the scoped versions of the K43, Sturmgewehr and Fallschirmjagergewehr are described and depicted as well.

The most important quality of the Propaganda Photo Series however, is a unique selection of original German World War II propaganda photos, most never published before. The combination of solid information and original photos makes the Propaganda Photo Series the most extensive and reliable source of German small arms 'in-use', depicting the weapons and equipment as they were actually used.

by Peter R. Senich
Description:
The complete story of Germany's sniping arms development through both World Wars. Presents more than 600 photos of Mauser 98s, Selbstladegewehr 41s and 43s, optical sights by Goerz, Zeiss, etc., plus German snipers in action. An exceptional hardcover collectoras edition for serious military historians everywhere.

A few more to add on the subject:


by C. Shore
Description:
Captain C Shore's enthusiasm for firearms led him to take every possible opportunity to try out different weapons, ammunition and methods of shooting. The result of all his investigations is this practical guide to the sniper¹s art in World War II. His interest was combined with sound common sense and he would never consonance a rumour about a practical weapon or incident unless he was able to confirm it for himself. As a result, everything in this text is based on his personal experience. In World War II, Captain Shore took part in the British landings at D-Day and he fought in Normandy and Northern Europe. He came across many different weapons in varying conditions, some of the worst being those used by the Dutch and Belgian resistance fighters. He was keen to learn from experienced snipers and then to train others and he became an office sniping instructor at the British Army of the Rhine Training Centre. He shares a wealth of first-hand knowledge of different rifles, pistols, machine guns, ammunition, telescopes, binoculars, and all the equipment a sniper should carry. With British snipers to the Reich is not only an account of sniping in World War II but also a guide to all aspects of sniping based on personal knowledge and experience in training and in battle.

by Martin Pegler
Description:
Revered by some as the ultimate warrior and condemned by others as ruthless assassins the combat sniper is more than just a crack shot. They are highly disciplined, calm professionals skilled in marksmanship, reconnaissance and camouflage. During the Second World War these lethal fighters were deployed by both sides to deadly effect. This new collection of biographies, written by leading military historians, explores the careers of the top snipers of the war. Each author supplies full details of their subject drawing on remarkable first-hand accounts that have never been published before to give a graphic insight into a sniper s skill. As well as providing incisive technical information, each author offers a glimpse of the character and personality of their chosen sniper, giving them a human face that is missing in standard portrayals. These gripping, in-depth narratives go beyond the cursory treatment in existing histories and will be essential reading for anyone wanting to learn about the role and technique of the sniper during the Second World War. The impressive list of contributors includes: ADRIAN GILBERT writing on the Werhmacht sharpshooter and lone wolf SeppAllerberger TOM C. MCKENNEY on West Tennesee-born marksman Bert Wilson Kemp DAN MILLS on the British Army sniper Patrick Devlin ROGER MOORHOUSE on SimoHäyhä the most prolific shooter of the Second World War TIM NEWARK on Operation Foxley, British sniping and the hunt for Hitler MARTIN PEGLER on the Soviet sniper VassiliZaitsev CHARLES W. SASSER on the deadly Soviet markswomen Lyudmila Pavlichenko MARK SPICER on Harry Furness the last surviving British sniper who went ashore on D-Day LEROY THOMPSON on Captain C. Shore the British sniper, trainer, theorist and historian JOHN B. TONKIN on Japanese snipers The book also includes an Introduction by John L. Plaster, leading sniper expert and bestselling author of The Ultimate Sniper: An Advanced Training Manual for Military and Police Snipers.

This sounds like a great list! Can't wait to read the Zaitsev book! I loved "War of the Rats."

Hi Helen, it does sound like it would be a very interesting read, glad to hear that you find something you like :)

OK, I will confess to have a fondness for the German Tiger I :-)

These are just two titles from many of my favourite books on the Tiger tank:

by Jean Restayn
Description:
The Tiger tank endures today as the greatest legend of the German armored forces of World War II. Jean Restayn's text is backed up by 250 photographs, most of them never published before, and 50 color plates showing markings, insignia and camouflage schemes. Also included is a complete operational history and order of battle for all Eastern Front units, both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, who were equipped with the Tiger.

by Jean Restayn
Description:
The heavily armored Tiger I became the most famous German tank of World War II. The Tigers were originally intended to counter the heavy tanks of the Russian Front, and were assigned to specially created tank battalions. In 1944 Tiger units were rushed to Normandy and fought in all the major battles of the Western Front. Although they were superior to all the tanks of the Western allies, Tigers in the West faced the added danger of attack from the greatly superior British and American air forces.
Each Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS unit equipped with the Tiger I is covered in detail. Each unit's insignia and a representative vehicle with camouflage and markings is shown in color. The operational history of each unit, and in some cases individual vehicles, is described with the aid of 250 black and white photos, most of them never before published.


Does anyone else have a weapon of war that is their favourite from WW2?

Two other weapons of war from WW2 that I love reading about are the Lancaster bomber and the B-17 Flying Fortress. I have read quite a few books on the operations and crews that flew these bombers but not a book specifically on the aircraft itself. I have a copy of Lancaster: The Second World War's Greatest Bomber to read but nothing on the history of the B-17.

by Leo McKinstry

One book that I failed to mention in regards to the many that I have on the Tiger 1 is this book that looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the Tiger Tank Battalions during WW2:

by Christopher W. Wilbeck

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Two other weapons of war from WW2 that I love reading about are the Lancaster bomber and the B-17 Flying Fortress. I have read quite a few books on the operations and crews that flew these bombers ..."

Watch this page, continiously updated with books about the B-17 in my collection.

Some good books there Dirk, thanks for sharing :)

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Some good books there Dirk, thanks for sharing :)"

I have a Lancaster shelf as well...

Nice, good collection of titles.

Nice shelf on the Lancaster Dirk...have you tried this? I have it and his volumes on the Spitfire and Hurricane but as yet all are unread:

by Leo McKinstry

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Two other weapons of war from WW2 that I love reading about are the Lancaster bomber and the B-17 Flying Fortress. I have read quite a few books on the operations and crews that flew these bombers ..."

In addition to Dirks collection - a couple of must reads of my own

Flying Forts by Martin Caidin - a little simplistic, but one of the earliest B-17 books I read and a good read. A good overall history of the aircraft.
Flying Fortress: The Illustrated Biography of the B-17s and the Men Who Flew Them (I mentioned this one in the What started me thread)

Also Roger A. Freeman has several on 8th AF ops

The Mighty Eighth War Diary
The Mighty Eighth: A History of the Units, Men, and Machines of the Us 8th Air ForceThe Mighty Eighth War Manual

Geevee wrote: "Nice shelf on the Lancaster Dirk...have you tried this? I have it and his volumes on the Spitfire and Hurricane but as yet all are unread:

[bookcover:Lancaster: The Second World War's Greatest Bo..."

Not yet, but it's on my list! His Spitfire and Hurricane titles I've already read.

Some excellent suggestions there folks :)

This new title is due out soon, (July) and I wonder how good it may be. It covers an excellent medium tank of WW2 (once its bugs were ironed out).

by Mike Green
Description:
In most people's opinion, the German Panther tank was the most elegant tank design of World War II. It embodied a balance of firepower, armor protection, and mobility unmatched by any other tank of the period. Yet, it was not the war-winner it might have been. Author Mike Green examines the disparity between the potential of the Panther design and the actuality of the fielded Panther tank in this new book. Though many viewed the Panther as an engineering masterpiece and a technological breakthrough, it failed to meet expectations on the battlefield, and thus proved a major setback to Hitler's dreams of world domination. Green explores the evolution, and devolution, of the Panther, providing keen insight and new reasons for its ultimate failure.

Definitely a Tiger fan as well Aussie Rick. I will have to look at the books you recommended for that. I remember my first book I read on a weapon was Caidin's book on the P-38. Still one of my favorites.

Love this website for some more about the German weapons...

Good web site Kris, thanks for the link.

Some other good picture books on the Tiger 1 are:


by Waldemar and Munch, Karlheinz Trojca

by Egon Kleine
Description:
2004, Limited edition reprint of 1989 English edition, hard bound with color illustrated cover, 9 x 12, glossy page stock, English text, 273 pages, 390 black and white photos, 19 maps, appendices. This is a reprint of a J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing classic on the Tiger I and Tiger II formations of the German Army and Waffen-SS. Even though the English-language edition of Tiger, The History of a Legendary Weapon is nearly 10 years old, it is still one of the best books written on the most feared tank of the Second World War. It is full of first-hand accounts that cannot be found anywhere else. In addition, the text has been completely re-edited for this reprint. Even if you own the original, you should consider the reprint. The book begins with the development history of the Tiger and continues with its first introduction to battle near Leningrad. All the Army and Waffen-SS Tiger formations and the major battles they fought in are covered, from sPz.Abt. 501 in North Africa, through the titanic struggles on the Eastern Front, to the desperate fighting in the West and in Italy to the Waffen-SS Tiger battalions in Hungary and ending with sPzAbt. 507 in the final battles in Germany. Also included are unit histories of the Jagdtiger and Sturmtiger formations. Numerous first-hand accounts of combat in the Tiger are included in the text which give the reader a vivid insight into the reality of fighting in these massive vehicles. The numerous excellent photographs of the vehicles and their crews complement the text.

And a good account of the strength and weakness of the Tiger Tank there is this great title:


by Christopher W. Wilbeck
Description:
The Tiger and King Tiger tanks gained legendary status during World War II. Numerous tank commanders attained phenomenal tallies of kills and accomplished extraordinary feats during combat in these tanks, building the legend to near mythic proportions after the war.
During WWII, the Germans created eleven Army and three Waffen-SS heavy tank battalions. These heavy tank battalions were employed in nearly every part of Europe against almost every enemy of Germany. As vast in breadth and scope as the employment of Tiger battalions themselves, Sledgehammers provides historical examples and analysis of heavy tank battalions' actions in North Africa, Normandy, Italy, the Ardennes Offensive, and numerous battles on the Eastern Front including Operation ZITADELLE/the Battle of Kursk, Operation BAGRATION, the battle of the Cherkassy Pocket, late war attacks to relieve Budapest, and many other more minor engagements.

Although a great deal has already been published about Tiger tanks' technical details and some of the units which used them, until now, very little has been written concerning the organization and tactical employment of these tanks throughout the German armed forces and across the theaters in which they were employed. Sledgehammers provides an in-depth look at heavy tank battalions' organizations and tactics, including the tactical doctrine by which these elite units were supposed to fight and how they were actually employed on the battlefield by their commanders and crews.

Even given the Tiger's reputation, many readers will be amazed by the fearsome casualties inflicted by the crews of many of these behemoth armored vehicles. It is safe to say that no other armored vehicle of the war wreaked as much havoc among enemy formations as Tigers. Many will, however, also find it equally stunning to learn of the Tigers' many technical and tactical vulnerabilities. Through the systematic use of extremely detailed primary source and other impeccably reliable research, Sledgehammers demolishes several major myths about Tigers in World War II.

Meticulously researched and written with the perspective and respect for Tigers' crews that only a professional tanker can bring to the subject, Sledgehammers synthesizes information to provide new and definitive insights into the strengths and flaws of World War II's most feared and legendary tanks.

Prologue by famed Tiger ace Otto Carius. Epilogue by Tiger killers Viktor Iskrov and Ray Holt.

I like the looks of the Sledgehammers Book Aussie Rick...On the TBR pile it goes.

Whilst talking about armoured fighting vehicles of WW2, I've had this book sitting in my library waiting to be read for some time:

by Ian W. Walker
Description:
The campaign in North Africa during WWII was one of the most important of the conflict. The allies fought for control of North Africa against the German Afrika Korps led by Rommel. But the part played by Mussolini's Italian troops, and in particular the armored divisions, in support of the Germans is not so well known. This painstakingly researched book looks in detail at the role of Mussolini's three armored divisions - Ariete, Littorio and Centauro - and the invaluable part they played in Rommel's offensive between 1941 and 1943. Indeed, the author is able to show that on many occasions the presence and performance of the Italian armored divisions was crucial to the success of the axis campaign.

This new title may interest some members, I placed it in this thread as it covers weapons & tactics:


by Stephen Bull
Description:
The 'poor bloody infantry' do the dirty front-line work of war. It bears the brunt of the fighting and often suffers disproportionately in combat in comparison with the other armed forces. Yet the history of infantry tactics is too rarely studied and often misunderstood. Stephen Bull, in this in-depth account, concentrates on the fighting methods of the infantry of the Second World War. He focuses on the infantry theory and the combat experience of the British, German, American and Soviet armies. His close analysis of the rules of engagement, the tactical manuals, the training and equipment is balanced by vivid descriptions of the tactics as they were tested in action. These operational examples show how infantry tactics on all sides developed as the war progressed, and they give a telling insight into the realities of infantry warfare. This accessible and wide-ranging survey is a fascinating introduction to the fighting methods of the opposing ground forces as they confronted each other on the European battlefields of 70 years ago.

I was always interested in WW2 advances in weaponry. Mainly

1. "Bat bombs"--radar-guided US bombs

2. Infrared sights on German sniper rifles (I think...)

Anyone know any books on their development?

Jerome wrote: "I was always interested in WW2 advances in weaponry. Mainly

1. "Bat bombs"--radar-guided US bombs

2. Infrared sights on German sniper rifles (I think...)

Anyone know any books on their development?"

The only book that I could think of as a starting point would have to be:

by Peter R. Senich

Since I own and have used a WW2 model Mosin-Nagant Rifle I figured others may also be interested in this book:


by Terence W. Lapin
Description:
Although the Mosin-Nagant rifle was in use for more than sixty years by half the world's military forces, no book in the English language has ever traced its development and identified all its models and variations as manufactured around the world, including in the United States. No provided the part-by-part information needed by the collector and shooter.

This is the first book in English, ever written about the Mosin-Nagant. It identifies every single model manufactured in Russia, France, the United States, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Finland, China and North Korea. Every part is described with all changes and markings, making it possible to identify the national origins of not only the rifle as a whole, but of every part.

Chapters provide a history of its development and use from 1892 to its last manufacture in Hungary and China in the mid-1950s. Then each part is analyzed showing all changes in chronological order. All variations are described from the original rifle to the M1944 carbine with its unique folding bayonet. All Finnish variations are described and a history of the tiny country's relations with its giant next door neighbor is included to show the derivation of Finland's line of Mosin-Nagants.

Sniper rifles from all countries are listed in a separate chapter as is the ammunition produced for the rifle and all accessories issued to the combat soldier. Of great value to the collector is the huge list of markings and codes found on all Mosin-Nagant rifles of whatever national origin, the first ever compiled.

The Mosin-Nagant was one of the earliest small-caliber battle rifles developed in the late 19th century. Its rugged design and construction are borne out by the fact that the only changes ever made to its basic design were to shorten and lighten the rifle as ammunition improved and battle conditions changed. The Mosin-Nagant is without doubt, one of the premier battles rifles of the late 19th and early 20th century and a testament to skill of it Russian designer.

Two more famous weapons of WW2 used by US and other allied forces:


by Bruce N. Canfield
Description:
The world's most popular and respected author on World War II firearms presents his most complete examination of the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine ever. It's absolutely huge - nearly 300 pages packed solid with the kind of useful, hands-on knowledge that readers have been demanding. Detailed, close-up photographs show the specific features that separate valuable rarities from fakes and rebuilds. Covers all the manufacturers, with easy-to-understand explanations of all the components, parts, variations and markings. Learn which parts are proper for which guns and avoid being fooled. Over 300 clear, large photos show you features, markings, overall views and actions shots of the guns being used in battle. 33 tables give you instant reference to the facts you need the most. This is simply the most complete and useful guide to these very important military firearms.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Since I own and have used a WW2 model Mosin-Nagant Rifle I figured others may also be interested in this book:..."

How do you like it Rick? These rifles are often for sale here and I have thought occasionally about picking one up for fun.

On the other hand, M1 Garand and Carbines sell for a pretty penny--would love to have one of those.

Hi Mike, to be honest I love it, it has the nice long spike bayonet that you see in all the photo's. It shoots reasonable well as long as you can get the ammo for it OK. It's a nice piece of history to handle. I also had a beautiful M1 Garand, with all the metal work re-blued and the wood French polished, a lovely rifle but I had to hand it in when our gun laws changed.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I also had a beautiful M1 Garand, with all the metal work re-blued and the wood French polished, a lovely rifle but I had to hand it in when our gun laws changed...."

That was a sad day, I'm sure. A true classic. I have a WWII German 7mm Mauser. Currently mounted in a sport stock but I used to have the original combat stock--until my Dad threw it out after I left for my military career.

Another beautiful rifle Mike! I have a 1943 Mauser converted to 7.62 by the Israeli army post 1945 which is a great hunting rifle and have another 1944 Mauser in near perfect condition with all the German markings still intact.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "OK, I will confess to have a fondness for the German Tiger I :-)

These are just two titles from many of my favourite books on the Tiger tank:

by Jean Rest..."

I too have an affinity for the Tiger I. It's my fave among the lot. It had massive potential, but unfortunately, came far too late and far too few in the War to make any difference. Still, my heart goes to the brave crewmen and their commanders such as Kurt Knipsel and Otto Carius.

Hi Jolo, I love the Tiger I as it just looks mean, it looks like what it was designed for; to roll forward onto the battlefield and destroy other tanks.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Jolo, I love the Tiger I as it just looks mean, it looks like what it was designed for; to roll forward onto the battlefield and destroy other tanks."

The Tiger was definitely a huge leap in engineering. Ideally it was technically superior to everything ever fielded by the Allies. It had about 5:1 kill ratio and a survivability that was almost unmatched. You had to be innovative if you wanted to take out a Tiger, unless it was already hampered by its own technical issues, because much like all the other German tanks, it was over-engineered and under-produced.

I love the Tiger the same way you probably do. It was just so fucking badass. Plus, the most notable tank aces of the war (whose records are still safely unmatched) were those of Tiger crews. Screw the politics and the technical mumbo-jumbo! The Tiger is probably the biggest cause of my hard-ons since I discovered my own penis.. LMAO!

If you haven't already read this book (see below) then I am sure you will enjoy it Jolo:


by Christopher W. Wilbeck
Description:
The Tiger and King Tiger tanks gained legendary status during World War II. Numerous tank commanders attained phenomenal tallies of kills and accomplished extraordinary feats during combat in these tanks, building the legend to near mythic proportions after the war.
During WWII, the Germans created eleven Army and three Waffen-SS heavy tank battalions. These heavy tank battalions were employed in nearly every part of Europe against almost every enemy of Germany. As vast in breadth and scope as the employment of Tiger battalions themselves, Sledgehammers provides historical examples and analysis of heavy tank battalions� actions in North Africa, Normandy, Italy, the Ardennes Offensive, and numerous battles on the Eastern Front including Operation ZITADELLE/the Battle of Kursk, Operation BAGRATION, the battle of the Cherkassy Pocket, late war attacks to relieve Budapest, and many other more minor engagements.

Although a great deal has already been published about Tiger tanks� technical details and some of the units which used them, until now, very little has been written concerning the organization and tactical employment of these tanks throughout the German armed forces and across the theaters in which they were employed. Sledgehammers provides an in-depth look at heavy tank battalions� organizations and tactics, including the tactical doctrine by which these elite units were supposed to fight and how they were actually employed on the battlefield by their commanders and crews.

Even given the Tiger’s reputation, many readers will be amazed by the fearsome casualties inflicted by the crews of many of these behemoth armored vehicles. It is safe to say that no other armored vehicle of the war wreaked as much havoc among enemy formations as Tigers. Many will, however, also find it equally stunning to learn of the Tigers� many technical and tactical vulnerabilities. Through the systematic use of extremely detailed primary source and other impeccably reliable research, Sledgehammers demolishes several major myths about Tigers in World War II.

Meticulously researched and written with the perspective and respect for Tigers' crews that only a professional tanker can bring to the subject, Sledgehammers synthesizes information to provide new and definitive insights into the strengths and flaws of World War II’s most feared and legendary tanks.

Prologue by famed Tiger ace Otto Carius. Epilogue by Tiger killers Viktor Iskrov and Ray Holt.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "If you haven't already read this book (see below) then I am sure you will enjoy it Jolo:


by Christopher W. ..."

Dang! I need to find some serious cash to get these books! LOL! It's like a whole new stash of intellectual porno! XD

Mike wrote: "On the other hand, M1 Garand and Carbines sell for a pretty penny--would love to have one of those "

last spring i had the opportunity to target shoot
with an M1 Garand. it was quite the thrill. it had
been quite awhile since i'd been shooting anything and
that was with .22s. with the target at 50 yards over a peep site, i felt like i was aiming at a postage stamp with a cannon.

i'd met an old marine and by old i mean he was in the first wave at the Marshalls, Guam and Okinawa with the First Armored Amphibian Battalion.

he told me some good stories then he invited me
to go shooting with his M1. couldn't pass up an
offer like that.

his issued weapon was a thompson, but he said whenever he landed on a beach he'd pick up an
M1. the thompson was good for the jungle, the
M1 for open ground, he said 'If I could see it,
I could hit it'. (i believe him).

he didn't have anything good to say about the carbine. he told me when they were checked out on carbine he hit the upper right quad of the target, of
the guy next to him! so his opinion went down from there.

his squad would have a couple garands and the rest carbine, so in his opinion, no body was hitting anything especially at more than 400yds.

he used his M1 to deer hunt after the war but he
sold it, he regrets that! kinda sounded like many of us that got rid of that now classic car we had when
we were teenagers. a while later he got another, this one is a '53 korean war issue.

My brother-in-law has a match prepared M-1 Garand ( I'm not really sure what that entails, but it was used in offical target shooting compitions) that is really a joy to shoot. He inherited it from his father who was on several Post Rifle Teams when he was in the Army in the 50s and 60s.

Found some books on the "bat bombs" I mentioned earlier.

Controlled Bombs And Guided Missiles Of The World War Ii And Cold War Eras by Vernon R. Schmitt

by Paul G. Gillespie

Good find Jerome!

I purchased a copy of this book today, it seems to offer the reader an interesting account of the iconic WW2 infantry weapon of the United States:

by Bill Yenne
Description:
The Trench Broom. The Annihilator. The Persuader. The Chopper. The Chicago Typewriter. The Tommy Gun.

The Thompson submachine gun has gone by many names, and for nearly a century the gun’s image has been indelibly marked on the popular consciousness. In this broad-reaching cultural and military history, Bill Yenne charts the tommy gun's unpredictable and one-of-a-kind career, from its infamy in the hands of Al Capone and the Chicago mobsters, to its shady days with the IRA, to its indelible place in the arsenal of World War II, and its truly immortal and ongoing role in Hollywood.

The tommy gun is without a doubt the most famous, and the most infamous, American firearm of the twentieth century. Since its birth in the aftermath of World War I, the tommy gun has enjoyed a varied career on both sides of the law. Though General John T. Thompson invented it for the American military, it first found notoriety thanks to its part in events such at St. Valentine's Day Massacre. But when the United States entered World War II, the gun's true power as an essential, life-saving weapon made it an iconic weapon of the American GI.

Full of incredible stories from the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific, America's gangland, and Hollywood studio back lots, Bill Yenne's Tommy Gun is the definitive story of this unique American icon.

i read this one a looong while ago. i found the
gangster era 20s-30s most interesting. through serial numbers the FBI knew how many Thompson's were out there, so they could figure how well-armed Dillinger, or pick your bad guy, was. So the FBI could track and work on getting all these automatic weapons out of circulation.

can't imagine being able to tell how many
guns are available now.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "

[bookcover:Tommy Gun: How General Thompson's Subm..."

Very interesting Carl.

You all know that I'm a big fan of the Tiger I but I have this print framed and hanging in my office of the King Tiger:

Here's a nice print of the Tiger 1:

Wittmann's Tiger 1 in Villers Bocage

Rick,

Any idea where I might purchase a print of these?

Nick

Hi Nick, the artist is an Australian but you can try his web page:



Cranston may also carry them:



Be warned, they are quite large prints so you need some good wall space but they look pretty damn good!