Military Model Scene

Title: Crusader vs M13/40
Author: David Greentree
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-6109-2

North Africa 1941-42, number 137 in the Duel series from Osprey. An 80-page soft-cover book in the usual style for this series.
As usual there is an introduction to set the context, followed by am appropriate Chronology of events. Then we get the design and development stories of both of these British and Italian tanks. This of followed by the technical specifications of the two, and I liked the way this is split into the 3 main elements of any tank, firepower, protection and mobility, plus the addition of vision and communications. The next chapter, on the combatants, compares the opposing doctrine, training and organisation of armoured units on both sides. Then after a look at the strategic situation in North Africa once these 2 tank types found themselves opposing each other in the desert, we get to the detail of how they fared in combat. The battles considered in this section include Operation Crusader, the Battle of Gazala plus the Second Battle of El Alamein. It is all rounded off with some analysis and finally some thoughts on the aftermath. It is an interesting read with what I felt was a good examination of the good things and the bad things on both the British and the Italian tanks.
The book is of course well illustrated with archive photos along with some modern colour pictures of the M13/40 preserved in Italy. Two illustrators provide the artwork, with Johnny Schumate providing the cover, battle scenes and target views, while Alan Gilliland contributed the 3-view drawings and ammunition illustrations. Lots of useful factual detail along with the story of the units which used these tanks in North Africa. Another good addition to this series I thought.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin