Russian Tanks, 1900-1970: The Complete Illustrated History of Soviet Armoured Theory and Design.

by John Milsom

Book Overview

Very Good condition. No marks or dings on the pages or binding. Cover shows wear at binding, see our photo. Mailed in a box as always by MHSbooks. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0883650525
• ISBN13: 9780883650523
• Release Date: January 1975
• Publisher: Galahad Books
• Weight: 1.78 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Not just a list of tanks.

Russian Tanks 1900-1970 is not just another book listing tanks and armoured vehicles. The first chapter of the book starts with concepts that Russia was trying to develop before Revolution. The next six chapters deal with the formation of the tank industry, how real warfare forced the tanks to evolve to meet realistic needs, and tanks of the Nuclear Age. The second part of the book is made up of five chapters that DO list and give details about Light Tanks, Heavy Tanks, Self-Propelled Weapons and so on. The first part of the book is the best part. Watching how tanks, based totally on theory and simple ideas, were replaced by new and more effective tanks as the conflicts with Finland and Germany forced the Russians to rethink their designs is pure delight.

Comprehensive but dated

Comprehensive coverage of Russian AFV's from 1917 to 1970, including armoured cars, apcs, spgs, half-tracks, rocket launchers, etc. based on information available in 1970 - more recent publications have been able to access additional ex-soviet resources.Part I covers the mechanization of the Russian Army, with chapters on pre-revolutionary concepts, foundation of the soviet tank industry, the first and second five year plans, armoured warfare in practice (Manchuria, Finland and the purges), the great patriotic war, and armour in the nuclear age. Part II covers the vehicles themselves, with chapters on light tanks, medium tanks, heavy tanks, self-propelled weapons, and wheeled (armoured) and tracked supporting vehicles. There are supporting data tables, maps, notes, references and a bibliography.Most vehicles are illustrated, all b & w, some heavily retouched and poorer quality. There are some errors, eg late-war and post-war T34-85's seem to be mixed up, some T34 models seem to be mislabelled, and the KV2 experimental 85mm picture is of an experimental KV2 with 107mm F39 gun per Zaloga. Overall still a great single volume reference - updated with more recently available information and pictures it would be worth 5 stars.