glcanon Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Anyone read any good tanker novels, other than the two old standards, "Team Yankee" and "The Ten Thousand" by Harold Coyle which I've read already. ? I've heard good things about Pete Callahan's trilogy Armored Corps... but haven't read any of them.A former business associate of mine who is a former M1A2 Plt Ldr and West Point grad said the classic text is Armored Warfare by James Frederick Charles Fuller. Amazon has it new for $83.95 (which is crazy).Guess I'm looking for something lighter, more entertaining, and Cheaper.BTW, watched some nice SB videos on YouTube this evening... most excellent vids by Daskal and wolfbiscuits... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishHussar Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Hi Theretry "A Troop Leaders War" By Bill Bellamy it could be hard to get hold of but is worth the look. Also any of the books written by Ken Tout. "Tanks", "Tanks Advance" or "To Hell With Tanks" all based on true accounts during WW2.Irish Mente et Manu 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hokie4824 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Another good book is Thunder Run, which is about the US 3rd ID's armored push in Baghdad in April 2003. Very good read, I just finished it yesterday. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsbmw Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 "Tigers in the mud", buy Otto Caracus, the famous German tank ace. Great read.Also, I know it is not a Tank novel, but one of the best novels I have read recently: "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" by James D. Hornfischer. It is about the Destroyers that engaged an entire Japanese armada, and managed to fight them off. Great book. I could not but it down. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootme4fun Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 "Kursk", I thought was a really good book about tankers. It takes place in WWII and goes back and forth between a crew of a T-34 and German Armor Officer who commands a tank company. He is the tank commander of a Tiger I and it has an excellent tank battle that takes place where hundreds of tanks were fighting on boths sides. The area was so small that there seemed to be no front. It depicts the events at the battle of Kursk. Good read. I give it *****! Oh and I believe the auther is David Robbins. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_Thunder Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 There are several old threads on books with some recommendations you might want to check out:http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=6995http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=9690http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=9897 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingtiger Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Hi Theretry "A Troop Leaders War" By Bill Bellamy it could be hard to get hold of but is worth the look. Also any of the books written by Ken Tout. "Tanks", "Tanks Advance" or "To Hell With Tanks" all based on true accounts during WW2.Irish Mente et ManuNot at all, here it is for 34USDhttp://www.amazon.com/Troop-Leader-Tank-Commanders-Story/dp/0750939796 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glcanon Posted June 27, 2007 Author Share Posted June 27, 2007 Thanks, Hokie. I actually bought Thunder Run last week, but my father took it away from me when I visited this past Saturday, so will have to start it after he's finished. Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I picked up about $100 worth of used books on Amazon from your recommendations... should keep me busy all summer.Cheers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishHussar Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Thanks for that KTof better note though are the book reviews on what "buyers also bought".There is indeed some very interesting reading to be had.Irish 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemolitionMan Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 There are several old threads on books with some recommendations you might want to check out:http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=6995http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=9690http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=9897Don´t forget the longest thread: http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=995 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enrage Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Panzer BattlesArmor AttacksTankHeavy Metal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobrabase Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Panzer BattlesArmor AttacksTankHeavy MetalArmor attacks rocks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enrage Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Armor attacks rocks. Yes it does 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glcanon Posted June 28, 2007 Author Share Posted June 28, 2007 cobrabase, I picked up all 3 of Pete Callahan's books based on your recommendation... one seller on Ebay was offering all three with combined shipping, so it was even cheaper than Amazon...Picked up The Beast on DVD for $3.Gotta grab those bargins whenever possible.Oh, I watched your Valley of the Jackal, and your other vids too. Just one thing, you give credits, but no music cred? I enjoyed the music in a couple of the vids, your viewers might like to know what they're listening to. Also, what software are you using to create those videos?One last thing, there was a great program on The Military Channel tonight, about Marines at Tank School (Fort Knox). Lots of excellent footage inside and outside the turret while 7 Abrams are at the tank range. Lots of good sound clips, if someone wanted to clip n use. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsbmw Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 I have bought a bunch of books based on this thread. Thanks for all the insight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemolitionMan Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Ordered a copy of "Armored Corps 1" today...unfortunately the other two are not available at amazon.de . Still looking for "Chieftains"...this will be a lifetime journey I guess. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemolitionMan Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 "Kursk", I thought was a really good book about tankers. It takes place in WWII and goes back and forth between a crew of a T-34 and German Armor Officer who commands a tank company. He is the tank commander of a Tiger I and it has an excellent tank battle that takes place where hundreds of tanks were fighting on boths sides. The area was so small that there seemed to be no front. It depicts the events at the battle of Kursk. Good read. I give it *****! Oh and I believe the auther is David Robbins.The title is "Last Citadel". Great book, loved it. Here´s an excerpt: http://www.davidlrobbins.com/novels/Last_Citadel/excerpt.html 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootme4fun Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Yeah, sorry about that. Been such a while since I read it, but is still one awesome book. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemolitionMan Posted July 7, 2007 Share Posted July 7, 2007 Michael Farmer should get a mention here. He brought out three books dealing with tanks, "Tin Soldiers", "Iron Tigers" and "War Dogs". "Brazen Chariots" by Robert Crisp is said to be very good as well.Also Steven Zaloga had a bit of fictional tank battle as an opener in "Tank War Central Front - NATO vs Warsaw Pact" . 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glcanon Posted July 8, 2007 Author Share Posted July 8, 2007 Thanks D'Man, I actually purchased the first 2 Michael Farmers books in paperback, will see how they go before buying the third (it didn't get as good reviews as the first two).And thanks Cobrabase, the cadence calling music brought back memories of many battalion runs at 0' dark hundred hours. Was the cadence stuff from this "Unit" show you mentioned? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glcanon Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 Here's one that hasn't been mentioned yet: "Alamein" by Stephen Bungay, here's an excerpt: "In 1942 the British government presciently bought up the world's annual stock of tea. This was a wise move, for tea kept the army going and was crucial for morale. Brewing it was a ritual performed three or four times a day, and nothing was allowed to interfere with it. Tankmen learned to brew tea on the move and crews of disabled tanks were observed to get out and brew up behind their vehicle in the middle of a battle." I suppose if your tank's out of commission, might as well have a nice beverage, ay? About 6 mos ago I acquired an addiction to Twinings Earl Grey tea. The stuff is addictive, more so than than tobacco. Only here in the States (especially in the South) we don't drink it hot. Sacrilege, I'm sure. Pour it over ice, add a couple packets of Splenda, and voila, the perfect cure to our summer heat index of 104 Deg F. I don't envy the Brits their perverse style of military dress, but I do appreciate their contribution to caffeine addiction. Jolly good show, Brits! So long, and thanks for all the fish, er, tea. Cheers! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemolitionMan Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Thanks D'Man, I actually purchased the first 2 Michael Farmers books in paperback, will see how they go before buying the third (it didn't get as good reviews as the first two).And thanks Cobrabase, the cadence calling music brought back memories of many battalion runs at 0' dark hundred hours. Was the cadence stuff from this "Unit" show you mentioned?Speaking for Cobrabase, yes the cadence music is the title music of "The Unit". The show is based on Eric L. Haney´s "Inside Delta Force" btw...a quite interesting book. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plastictree Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 My personal favourite is Panzer Battles http://www.amazon.com/Panzer-Battles-Study-Employment-Second/dp/1568525788/ref=sr_1_1/103-0414320-9065401?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184479848&sr=8-1Its from the divisional/corps level, but there is some fascinating stuff in there, basically the biography/campaign diary of a Wehrmacht Major General, von Mellenthin.My copy is from the late 50's, so it is falling apart very rapidly. I can remember reading it when I was like 8 or so. Most other kids I know wanted a puppy or a sega to play with - I wanted an armoured corps.Thats actually a little disturbing, now I think about it 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_Thunder Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 My personal favourite is Panzer Battles http://www.amazon.com/Panzer-Battles-Study-Employment-Second/dp/1568525788/ref=sr_1_1/103-0414320-9065401?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184479848&sr=8-1Its from the divisional/corps level, but there is some fascinating stuff in there, basically the biography/campaign diary of a Wehrmacht Major General, von Mellenthin.My copy is from the late 50's, so it is falling apart very rapidly. I can remember reading it when I was like 8 or so. Most other kids I know wanted a puppy or a sega to play with - I wanted an armoured corps.Thats actually a little disturbing, now I think about itGood book. I read it myself about 15-20 years ago. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glcanon Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 I picked up Panzer Battles last week at Half Price Bookstore for round about $6If anyone's shopping for this book, be sure to purchase the K&K (Konecky & Konecky) version as only this one has all the maps and diagrams.Brig Gen. von Mellenthin said the problem generals had with Hitler was that he was so often right early in the war that it was almost impossible to convince him he was wrong about something later in the war. Good luck trying.Rommel was quite outspoken against NAZI leadership, so ended up growing foul of Hitler's paranoia and petty dislike of Prussian officers. Look where it got him, the choice between suicide or a sham trial and all his family being shot.During his stay in the hospital Rommel's said to have told his son in private, ""Stauffenberg botched his plans, but a front line officer would have finished Hitler off".Interestingly, Rommel is the only member of the Third Reich establishment to have a museum dedicated to his person and career (its in Herrlingen, west of Ulm). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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