Armour Camouflage and Markings

Back from a week in the Sun with friends.  Nice way to spend the time.

Just before departure, I  received the last of three books ordered to help with the Tanks project.  All of these involved camouflage and markings throughout World War II.  I already had one book covering the Polish and French campaigns.  Each of these four books, while originally published many years ago,  is highly recommended.  Here’s a few comments on each.

The cover says it all.  I was especially intrigued by the widespread use of tankettes and carriers by the Allies.  Many of the photos were of abandoned Allied armor, which shouldn’t have been a surprise, but the sheer frequency of breakdowns reported was astounding.

 

This is the only book not published by Arms and Armour.  George Bradford is well known for his profiles series.  I was not overly impressed with it at first glance-through, but subsequent readings proved it to be a very satisfying overview, complete with scale drawings of all the armored vehicles used during the campaign.

Another volume with Steven Zaloga, the well known armor expert and author of the popular  Panzer Colors series.  This volume includes a helpful survey of German Panzer unit insignia, as well as an interesting discussion of Soviet tank inscriptions. Vehicles from Romania and Hungary are also covered.

 

This book begins with a very interesting discussion of the purposes and techniques of camouflage.  The author emphasizes the effects of dirt, dust and foliage on armor camouflage, and the differences in philosophy between the Great Britain, United States and Germany.  To me, the illustrations aren’t consistently as good, but I am a fan of profiles and not aspect renderings of equipment and aircraft.  Most of German vehicles photographed were captured, with only a few shots of them in action.

Prices for these books – all used- range from the reasonable to the absurd.  It took time and effort over a period of months to locate quality copies at good prices.  I feel the money was well spent.

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