Military Model Scene

Title: Light Panzers
Author: Thomas Anderson
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 979-1-4728-6177-1

The latest book in this popular series of books from author Thomas Anderson and Osprey Books. A 288-page hard-cover book, though it is also available in e-book formats.
With an introduction and then 9 chapters, this is another great book in this series. It takes us through the chronology of the German light tanks, from the early 1930s, when the small Pz I and slightly larger Pz IIs were built in significant numbers. Cheap and easy to produce in bulk, they allowed the Panzer Force to develop their operational tactics and organisation. They were used in action during the Spanish Civil War, as part of the Condor Legion. At the start of WW2they were widely used in the invasions of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and later France. Plenty of lessons learnt and the book includes extracts from reports by German units/commanders on what lessons were learnt. There is also coverage of combat in Greece, North Africa and then Russia in the early stages of Operation Barbarossa. The Pz I was essentially obsolete while the Pz II was up-armoured. There is coverage of the various specialist variants, such as bridgelayers, flamethrowers, demolition charge layers plus the inclusion and development of the Czech Pz 35(t) and 38(t). Add the various types of self-propelled guns, both artillery and anti-tank variants. There is also good coverage of the later variants of the Pz II, including the Ausf F, Ausf J and the Ausf L (Luchs). It also includes details of their opponents light tanks, with British, French, Russian and American light tanks before ending up with an interesting Conclusion. Throughout the book there are a host of archive illustrations, most of which I had not seen before.
I have been studying AFVs for many years now and thought I knew a fair bit about these Light Panzers. Reading this I have to say that everyday can still be a school day, I learnt a lot more thanks to this new addition to the series. Thomas Anderson explains a lot more about these panzers, and in a very readable style. The archive images are first class and this series of books he does with Osprey are really a first class reference for AFV enthusiasts and modellers alike. Highly recommended in my view.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin