AFV

The German IIIrd Panzer Korps has suffered hell during the Battle of Kursk, the greatest armoured clash of WWII. This book is an incredibly precise account, yard per yard, hour per hour, of the ten days of the battle that was fought on a 6-mile front by the elite of German Panzer forces, opposing the Soviet army. Thanks to first-hand witnesses and photographs provided with accurate captions written by the actor themselves, the author traces the lines of a gigantic fight. Many unpublished photos, never read before accounts and colour profiles of tanks and AFVs make this book a real reference.

Ten years ago, Histoire & Collections published a book entitled Tanks of World War Two, which comprised hundreds of colour profiles ans three-quarters views by Jean Restayn. This book obtained a great success but is now sold out for long. The time has come of publishing a completely renewed version, with many additions. In this volume, campaign by campaign, the proper tanks (battle tanks and light tanks as well) of every nation involved in the various campaigns of WWII, from Poland to Berlin and from Lybia to Normandie, from the earliest Panzer I to the latest British Cruiser tank, each type is represented in full colour. Two additional volumes are scheduled in this Encyclopedia: Volume Two will be devoted to tank destroyers, self-propelled artillery and special purpose AFVs, while Volume Three will include the various types of wheeled armoured cars and miscellaneous armoured vehicles.

At the outbreak of WWII, the French cavalry comprised a wide number of AFVs that will be "the first and the last to fight", according to the great traditions of this branch of service. In this first volume, the emphasis is put on the Renault VM model 1933 light cavalry tank which had received the official and rather confusing name of "automitrailleuse de reconnaissance" (AMR), i.e. recce armoured car. In fact, it was a proper tank, although very light and ill-armed (a single 7,5 mm machine-gun), but fast and agile, as should be any cavalry combat vehicle. The AMRs fought gallantly in May 1940.

After the initial type (AMR 33) was pressed into service, the French Cavalry asked Renault for an improved version with the engine at the rear. The new vehicle was adopted in 1935, as the "AMR 35" (automitrailleuse de reconnaissance modèle 1935). This light cavalry tank has been produced in a number of different versions (with a light or heavy machine-gun, or with a 25 mm antitank gun) and has also been the basis of two different types of radio-equipped command vehicles.

FRENCH VERSION
A detailed account of the Normandy campaign fought by the British Armoured Divisions and independant Armoured Brigades, from the D-Day landing to Operation Goodwood. The Author — a dedicated specialist of British armour — has divided his work into three parts : the units involved, the AFVs fielded in Normandy, and the doctrine of use of the High Command with its actual effect on the battlefield.
Equipped in some cases with obsolescent vehicles, their personnel often under-motivated but sometimes inventive, the British tank formations did not always answer to the hopes of the Allied military planners. This book gives a fresh view on the whole question.

A detailed account of the Normandy campaign fought by the British Armoured Divisions and independant Armoured Brigades, from the D-Day landing to Operation Goodwood. The Author — a dedicated specialist of British armour — has divided his work into three parts : the units involved, the AFVs fielded in Normandy, and the doctrine of use of the High Command with its actual effect on the battlefield.
Equipped in some cases with obsolescent vehicles, their personnel often under-motivated but sometimes inventive, the British tank formations did not always answer to the hopes of the Allied military planners. This book gives a fresh view on the whole question.

At its peak, the Leopard 1 was considered as the best MBT in the world. It also was the symbol of the new rise of German tank industry. This book covers every nation which have used — or are still servicing — the Leopard 1. (French edition only)