(1) Any movies out there with real german panzers used?
(2) I am trying to update my woefully outdated armour books. I think the latest one I have was copyright 1980 or so.
What I’m looking for, of course, are books with good colour images, or colour drawings for camo schemes. I picked up Janes Armour identification guide (revised 2nd edition) which is handly for modern armour (I never knew the Iranians made their own armour) but I still need a good WW2 german panzer book, esp. with regards to the tank destroyers (stugs, jagdpanthers, etc etc)
1: According to a Japanese book on military movies, a 1956 British film called “They Were Not Divided” featured a real Tiger I late production (steel wheel version) in a battle with Shermans (normal 75 Sherms playing the role of Fireflies). The Tiger gets off one shot before it gets popped by the Fireflies and then catches on fire, which the author of this book appears to be quite depressed about.
2: One outstanding book that I have recently purchased is “Germany’s Tiger Tanks, VK45.02 to Tiger II: Design, Production, and Modifications” by Thomas L. Lentz & Hilary L. Doyle. It is, without a doubt, the most complete and accurate book covering the technical aspects of the Tiger II from the first test vehicles to the last production pieces (not even whole vehicles!). $49.95, a bargain at twice the price!
I remember a movie in the 50’s, in black and white, about oil prospectors? in North Africa coming across a German tank buried in the sand. They dig it out, at least partially, and later use it to defend themselves against some locals. I think it was a short barreled mark IV. It might have been called “The Iron Lady” or something similar.
About books… The Squadron Signal Publication series on armour is I think always useful to have around; there’s a German publisher that has numerous books in the same format as SSP, in German, mostly dealing with German material, but I can’t remember their name (I’ll check tonight from home!). For more detailled stuff, the Verlinden books are pretty good. For pictures about specific theatre of operations, and in some cases, specific vehicles, the Concord books are outstanding. If you have lots of cash, the Panzer in Saumur books are fantastic. If you are into German stuff, you’ll still need the famed ‘Panzer Colours I, 2, 3’ books from SSP.
In terms of mags, you have Armor in Miniatures, Minitracks (French/English text) and the best (to me anyway), SteelMasters (French language only unfortunately).
I would also recommend Tigers in Combat 1 and 2(if 2 is out) I was recently lent this book and it is just chock full of goodies, including accurate drawings of camo schemes and markings… definately look into those 2.
