DemolitionMan Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 It´s neither a IS-2 nor a IS-3 but a T-10, but that cover is most certainly not the final one. Tin Soldiers is worth a read but IMO a bit too biased on the US side. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKM Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Aha. Thanks, Demo. In Tin Soldiers, at least the American tanks take losses. Compared to what else I've read (mostly Clancy) involving American tanks, you'd get the impression that a single M1A1HA can fight off the entirety of 3rd Shock Army, shortly before counterattacking all the way to the Ural mountains. I agree that the "Tigers" defeating that size of a force (what was it, deuce divisions or sommat?) essentially singlehandedly is a bit bullshit-tacular, buuut who wants to read a story about the good guys being overrun and slaughtered en-masse? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemolitionMan Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Aha. Thanks, Demo.In Tin Soldiers, at least the American tanks take losses. Compared to what else I've read (mostly Clancy) involving American tanks, you'd get the impression that a single M1A1HA can fight off the entirety of 3rd Shock Army, shortly before counterattacking all the way to the Ural mountains. I agree that the "Tigers" defeating that size of a force (what was it, deuce divisions or sommat?) essentially singlehandedly is a bit bullshit-tacular, buuut who wants to read a story about the good guys being overrun and slaughtered en-masse? The "bad" guys?? And I have to defend Clancy: reading "Red Storm Rising" I never got the impression he was too overly in love with the Abrams tank. On the contrary, the Americans had to pay a heavy price in all the battles he described. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabot Round Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Hello all, I came across this PDF linked through another blog and I figured people here would be interested. I didn't see it in the thread so sorry if it's a repost:Breaking the Mold: Tanks in the Cities by Kendall D. Gott 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabot_ready Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 thx 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabot Round Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 thxNo problem. I did some more looking around and there's actually quite a bit of PDF articles and I figured I'd post a link here to the rest of them just in case more people are interested in them: Combat Studies Institute Press 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GH_Lieste Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I'm not sure about Gott's claim that the Merkava can carry 285 rounds of 105mm!! Seems a touch optimistic 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mp96 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 THE 188TH CRYBABY BRIGADEA Skinny Jewish Kid from Chicago Fights HezbollahJOEL CHASNOFFhttp://books.google.co.il/books?id=JGqNuMSaZxQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+188th+crybaby+brigade&source=bl&ots=-uWpnt5D30&sig=jFD0wmtOsgIpsRgfYQgIDdECVAg&hl=en&ei=8_5nTYSIIIyEhQf2o6zyDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=true 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FletchRDG Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Ive recently started reading fact-based books to get an idea on design and uses. The books Ive read so far are:- Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles Visual Encyclopedia by Park lane Books- Chariots of fire by Philip Kaplan- Vital Guide: Modern Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles by Simon Dunstan(though Ive lost this book and want to buy it again)Im looking to read and/or buy:- Jane's Tank Recognition Guide (2000 update)- The World Encyclopedia of Tanks by George Forty- The Encyclopedia of Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Fromm World War I to the Present Day by Chris Bishop- Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank 1987-2006 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- Chieftain Main Battle Tank 1965-2003 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- Centurion Universal Tank 1943-2003 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- British Mark I Tank 1916 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by David Fletcher- Tanks Inside Out by Michael E.Haskew- Haynes Tiger Tank manual Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausf.E (Sdkfz 181) Model by David Fletcheris there anymore I should read to get a general idea of internal workings, info, role and other such information? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Ive recently started reading fact-based books to get an idea on design and uses. The books Ive read so far are:- Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles Visual Encyclopedia by Park lane Books- Chariots of fire by Philip Kaplan- Vital Guide: Modern Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles by Simon Dunstan(though Ive lost this book and want to buy it again)Im looking to read and/or buy:- Jane's Tank Recognition Guide (2000 update)- The World Encyclopedia of Tanks by George Forty- The Encyclopedia of Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Fromm World War I to the Present Day by Chris Bishop- Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank 1987-2006 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- Chieftain Main Battle Tank 1965-2003 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- Centurion Universal Tank 1943-2003 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- British Mark I Tank 1916 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by David Fletcher- Tanks Inside Out by Michael E.Haskew- Haynes Tiger Tank manual Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausf.E (Sdkfz 181) Model by David Fletcheris there anymore I should read to get a general idea of internal workings, info, role and other such information?You could try Salamander publishing books on the Centurion & the Cheiftain.They go into the Design and Development, Layout, Life In Service, etc. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Ive recently started reading fact-based books to get an idea on design and uses. The books Ive read so far are:- Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles Visual Encyclopedia by Park lane Books- Chariots of fire by Philip Kaplan- Vital Guide: Modern Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles by Simon Dunstan(though Ive lost this book and want to buy it again)Im looking to read and/or buy:- Jane's Tank Recognition Guide (2000 update)- The World Encyclopedia of Tanks by George Forty- The Encyclopedia of Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Fromm World War I to the Present Day by Chris Bishop- Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank 1987-2006 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- Chieftain Main Battle Tank 1965-2003 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- Centurion Universal Tank 1943-2003 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- British Mark I Tank 1916 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by David Fletcher- Tanks Inside Out by Michael E.Haskew- Haynes Tiger Tank manual Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausf.E (Sdkfz 181) Model by David Fletcheris there anymore I should read to get a general idea of internal workings, info, role and other such information?For Chieftain info there is the book "Chieftain" by Rob Griffin, he also hasdone a very good book on the Conqueror. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FletchRDG Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Thanking yous :cvcsalut: Im gonna start on a small library of tank books 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Can we arrange a lending scheme? Oh and that Centurion one is by Bill Munro Crusty hit the nail on the haed with the Cheiftain book. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FletchRDG Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Well so far Ive downloaded:- Jane's Tank Recognition Guide (2000 update) by Christopher F.Fost- Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank 1987-2006 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- Chieftain Main Battle Tank 1965-2003 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- Centurion Universal Tank 1943-2003 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by Simon Dunstan- British Mark I Tank 1916 (New Vanguard) (Paperback) by David FletcherDavid Fletcher holds alot of water when it comes to tank history. Hes on alot of tank related documentries on discovery channel. That and working at Bovington Tank museum kind of helps him out too lol. Im not so sure about Simon Dunstan though, he does produce some decent books but whether they're accurate on info is another question.5 more bookes left to get 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 (edited) Main Battle Tank, by Niall Edworthy, Tells the story of the Scots DG Battle group, in action around Basra 2003, A very good read, and tells how the Challengers were used in an urban war, which the crews had never trained for. My only complaint would be that it would benefit from more maps (it has two) and maybe some more pictures (it has eight pages) but never the less a very good book. This is another good one for you Fletch. Edited March 9, 2011 by Crusty Butter fingers 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ssnake Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 I have found virtually no book on (contemporary) military history that has maps in sufficient quantity and quality. What's wrong with the editors? Why not at least put links to a supplemental web page into these books if the page dimensions and print costs are prohibitive. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Main Battle Tank, by Niall Edworthy,Tells the story of the Scots DG Battle group, in action around Basra 2003,A very good read, and tells how the Challengers were used in an urban war, which the crews had never trained for.My only complaint would be that it would benefit from more maps (it has two) and maybe some more pictures (it has eight pages) but never the less a very good book.This is another good one for you Fletch.Hmm, duly noted. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKM Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I find it hard to believe that the tank crews of SDG had never trained for FIBUA. Guess I'll have to pick up the book then. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ssnake Posted March 12, 2011 Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 I find it hard to believe that the tank crews of SDG had never trained for FIBUA.It's utterly credible, and likely even. The question ultimately is how you want to deliver effective and useful training for your AFV crews in urban terrain. Do you do live training?Live training is costly, and you can't actually train certain combat procedures for urban terrain properly with live tools. Most live training is laser based (like MILES and similar solutions). Lasers don't shoot through walls. For safety restrictions and cost limitations you can't fire live ammunition at real houses to train procedures like "forced entry". You need to haul equipment to a live training facility, handle accommodation for the troops, plan to rotate all units through such a training center - ideally before their deployment, which isn't always possible - and even if you can afford all this and if you can get your training schedule to match operational requirements, you still can't get past those limitations of laser based live training systems.Constructive?Doesn't help your AFV crews at all to get their procedures right.Virtual.It seems to be the only viable option, really. But where are the simulations that allow for the integration of mounted and dismounted infantry, armor and mech vehicles, in urban combat of at least large villages if not medium to large cities, with partially destructible buildings?They just don't exist, period. It's an incredible engineering challenge, and I can tell you, the solutions still are in the making. And as long as suitable training tools don't exist, well, the training doesn't take place, no matter how badly needed it may be. Add to that cultural resistance/doctrinal inertia. Before Basra and Fallujah it was accepted doctrinal wisdom that bringing tanks to a knife fight in highly restrictive terrain like urbanized areas was a folly as it would negate most of a modern tank's advantages (true) and make it more vulnerable (also true); experiences of the Israelis notwithstanding ("interesting, but an irrelevant aberration"). What the armored branch leaders forgot about was that even despite all these reasons tanks still were the most survivable weapon system with the highest firepower that could be used with precision, as long as they would be protected by friendly infantry. Therefore tankers simply have to accept that they are a needed element in urban combat, like it or not, and if they don't want to get entangled in this kind of a mess they will be considered an irrelevant element of the force structure.This however means that armies are now accepting that they actually need training tools for mechanized operations in urban terrain. The nature of virtual simulations is however that it takes years to deliver something, especially if it is so radically different in the general requirements from established solutions as this. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemolitionMan Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Tanks in urban warfare...all the doctrine was already there in 1942-45, tried and battle-tested, mistakes erased and corrected. Only to be forgotten and neglected. Armies are strange. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Tanks in urban warfare...all the doctrine was already there in 1942-45, tried and battle-tested, mistakes erased and corrected. Only to be forgotten and neglected. Armies are strange.Its the Generals leading them that are strange. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FletchRDG Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Main Battle Tank, by Niall Edworthy,Tells the story of the Scots DG Battle group, in action around Basra 2003, A very good read, and tells how the Challengers were used in an urban war, which the crews had never trained for. My only complaint would be that it would benefit from more maps (it has two) and maybe some more pictures (it has eight pages) but never the less a very good book. This is another good one for you Fletch. Thanks crusty ill give that a gander, I found a PDF of that was set on getting the New vanguard books. Ill get that pdf though. I dont want to miss out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKM Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 -snip-Entirely valid, my mistake. The perception - not being a tanker myself - is that tankers, like Infanteers, would receive training in FIBUA before being considered fully qualified tankers. Whether or not they rehearsed their FISH and CHIPS drills prior to OIF is a different matter, and it was the (probably) erroneous perception of "haven't done it at all" versus "haven't done it recently" that drew my comment. Though I can see, given that explanation, why any training in FIBUA would be considered of low value and simply not performed. I would prefer to have them learn how to cooperate with squaddies FISHing and CHIPSing, even if only their coaxials and pintle mounts are relevant due to the physical limitations of the simulation gear, because that's better than nothing. But of course, that's not how things work. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stemik Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Tanks in urban warfare...all the doctrine was already there in 1942-45, tried and battle-tested, mistakes erased and corrected. Only to be forgotten and neglected. Armies are strange.It seems armies tend to get this condition called CRS syndrome- Can't Remember Sh*t. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furia Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Does anyone know a good book that covers the M-60 combat experiences besides the "Duel" series?I am also interested in the Israely Armour Operations in Sinai, Golan and LebanonI have recently read Heights of Courage and I have to say it is probably one of the best armour books I have ever read. I have also read Duel for the Golan which I also highly recommend it.I would like to read some more about the Sinai and Lebanon combat experiences if there are any books avalaible about this. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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