Military Model Scene

Title: The Indian Army at War 1947-99
Author: Mandeep Singh
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-6801-5

Number 566 in the Men-at-Arms series from Osprey, with artwork by Rafaele Ruggeri. A 48-page soft-cover book, in the usual style for the series.
Spread over 16 sections, this takes us through the story of the Indian Army from 1947, when the country was allowed independence as well as partition, with division between India and Pakistan (East and West). Largely done across religious lines, both in the division of the armed forces between the new nations as well as unrest as people moved to fit in where they felt best. The wartime level of 2.5 million men in the Indian Army, that had been reduced to around 500,000 by the time of the partition. It moves on in a chronological sequence, taking us through 5 wars with Pakistan and another with China along with a small number of other military engagements. These various conflicts led to various evolutions in organisation, tactics and equipment over time. The heart of the book however for many will be the 8 pages of super colour artwork illustrating the uniforms and equipment of Indian Army soldiers over time from 1947 through to 1999.
Very notable for the use of English uniforms, weapons and equipment in the early years, moving on to the use of Soviet supplied weapons and heavy equipment over the years, as well as more home produced weapons in the later years. At the end of the book there is a commentary on the colour plates, with detailed descriptions of each of the three different uniforms found on all of the 8 pages. Written by an Indian Army veteran there is a lot in the text which I had not known before, though for me, as a modeller, then the uniform illustrations which are such a key part of the Men-at-Arms series will be a significant attraction.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin