Military Model Scene

Title: South African Armoured Vehicles
Author: Dr Dewald Venter
Publisher: Helion & Company
ISBN: 978-1-913336-25-7

We have got to number 49 in the Africa @War series from Helion & Co and this one is right up my street, and I think will be for anyone interested in armoured vehicles. It fits the usual format for the series in that it is a 96-page soft-cover book, with plenty of archive photos and a set of fine artwork with colour profiles of the various vehicle types.
In the days of apartheid, South Africa was subject to international sanctions that prevented they buying arms on the international market. They also faced conditions that were peculiar to the geography of the country. They also faced conflict from guerrilla groups and then war in Angola. This is all neatly explained in the Introduction and then it goes on, with each chapter telling the development and service history of a different vehicle. These include the Eland armoured car (based on the Panhard AML); Buffel MPV; Ratel ICV; Casspir MPV: G6 Rhino SPH; Bataleur MRL; the Centurion based Olifant Mk1A MBT; Olifant Mk 1B MBT; Olifant Mk 2 MBT; Tank Technology Demonstrator; Rooikat 8x8 armoured car; Mamba APC and Badger ICV. Some of these South African designs have had a significant impact, especially on wheeled Mine Protected Patrol Vehicles, which have since been adopted by many other countries to improve protection for patrol vehicles against mines and IEDs. Some really interesting vehicles in here, as AFVs such as the big G6 is available in kit form from Takom, as is the Rooikat thanks to Trumpeter and we can see a Buffel now on display in the Tank Museum collection at Bovington.
I found this a really interesting and informative book to read, and there have been some very influential AFV designs originating in South Africa over the years. Lots of detail for both AFV enthusiasts and modellers alike.
Thanks to Helion & Co and distributors Casemate UK for our review copy.

Robin