Military Model Scene

Title: Jagdpanther vs 17-Pdr Achilles
Author: Frank Baldwin
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-6271-6

North West Europe 1944-45, number 143 in the Duel series from Osprey. An 80-page soft-cover book.
This one follows a regular format, with a Chronology, design & development, technical specifications, comparing the combatants, strategic situation and the rare combat times when the two did actually meet, before rounding things off with the statistics and analysis leading into details of the aftermath. An interesting comparison I think, as the two AFV's are different in many ways, yet mounted the most powerful anti-tank guns used by both sides (aside from the US 90mm that came along late in the war). The 17 pounder was a very successful weapon, but operated by the Royal Artillery rather than the Royal Armoured Corps. The book includes the different unit structures used by each side for these weapons, and how they were used.
There are plenty of variables, such as ranges, ammunition used, reliability and more. One basic difference was in the number built. It gives the figures of 1,017 M10s converted into the 17 pounder equipped version, whereas the German only built 415 Jagdpanthers, and these numbers also influenced where they were deployed and how they were utilised. Modellers will like it as well as AFV enthusiasts as there are plenty of archive photos and some very neat artwork showing details such as the differing views through their gunsights. Add maps, colour profiles, cutaways etc and there is a lot of useful detail held in this good value book.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin