Military Model Scene

Title: Red Army Self-Propelled Guns of the Second World War
Author: Alexey Tarasov
Publisher: Pen & Sword
ISBN: 978-1-39907-151-2

A photographic history of the Red Army's Second World War Self-propelled Artillery from Pen & Sword. A 226-page hard-cover book.
Pretty much literally a book of 2 halves. The first half is the text story while the second half is devoted to a marvellous set of archive photos illustrating the many vehicle types referred to in the text, plus lots of the various prototypes which were built, but not then followed by production orders. The first half is split across 6 chapters plus a conclusion. It considers the lost opportunities in SP artillery development before the German invasion, with little encouragement and the loss of so many senior officers thanks to Stalin's purges. Further losses as a result of the invasion didn't help, and while training was put in place, it was short and lacked direction at first. Tactics and doctrine were planned but the leaders at the front didn't always follow it. Experience in battle plus new equipment led to the selection of light, medium and heavy units which lasted beyond the end of the war. Then there was valuable assistance thanks to the arrival of Allied Lend-Lease equipment. The photographs are organised into 4 sections. These are Interwar, 1941-43, 1944-45 and a final element for Lend-Lease.
This makes for interesting reading plus it provides multiple views of so many of their vehicles. AFV enthusiasts will enjoy the history lessons and modellers will equally enjoy the reference photos. Overall a neat book and one I'd recommend.
Thanks to Pen & Sword for the review copy.

Robin