Tanks at the Iron Curtain 1960–75 (New Vanguard, 308)

Like all Osprey books it is short and to the point. Lots of good technical data about every thing on the vehicle. It covers both NATO and Soviet tanks at the time. Seems to me the cover more about the Soviet stuff.

This is a creditable history of the development of the MBT as it is currently now understood. Zaloga clearly is at his strongest when dealing with Soviet and U.S. armor developments.The date range is necessarily limiting in some respects because you need to talk about developments dating back to at least 1957-1958, and it of course bleeds over into the late 1970s. For example, the upgraded M-60A1 RISE/Passive did not actually enter U.S. service until 1977, technically past the date range of the title, but discussion of this variant is necessary to get the whole picture of the development of the M-60A1 during the 1970’s. On the other end, he does not discuss the tail end of the U.S. Army Europe careers of the M-48A1 and M-48A2 in Germany in the early 60’s, with the M-48A2 soldiering on into at least early 1964 in U.S. Armored Cavalry units. Nor does he cover the continued use of the M-47 in French and Belgian service well into the early 1970s until there were sufficient AMX-30Bs and Leopard 1BE’s to finally replace them in their respective armies.As for errors, one was particularly glaring: the data sheets and some of the text mention that the 105mm main gun of the AMX-30 series, the CN-105 F-1, was a smooth-bore gun. This is demonstrably not so, it was in fact very much a rifled weapon, and any respectable source will confirm this. It is puzzling that Mr. Zaloga would make such an easily avoidable mistake in his narrative. Also, the Leyland L-60 engine of the Chieftain and the 5TD series of the T-64 were inspired by the Junkers Jumo 205 opposed piston diesel aircraft engine, not the Jumo 003 jet engine as is indicated in the text.

By 1960, the World War II-era tanks that had carried NATO and the Warsaw Pact through the first years of the Cold War were ready for retirement. Advances in technology also mandated improvements. And, as author Steven Zaloga establishes in this just published Osprey New Vanguard book, cost was a surprisingly significant factor in decision-making on both sides of the Iron Curtain.In a brief but information-packed narrative, the author explores the improvements in tanks. The availability of new and more lethal technologies often prompted change. However, the fielding of new tanks was, surprisingly, mostly incremental and the subject of politics on both sides.The text features an interesting collection of period photographs and modern illustrations and tank diagrams. This reviewer was especially fascinated by assessments from both sides that rated relative combat effectiveness of fielded tanks. Well recommended to students of the Cold War.

This is a good overview of this critical time, where WW3 could have happened at any time. The Osprey books, give the reader a good outline of what goes on in these areas in their books and a further reading list in the back if they wish to go further. The East/West German border was a critical flash point in the possible furtherance of a escalation between the superpowers. This a good book for readers born after this period, so they can learn how the world is shaped today.

Exactly as ordered

This book is what it should be. The New Vanguard format is short (48 pages), but it is not a simplistic overview. The analysis of tanks of this era is supplemented with color plates and pictures. Zaloga knows this subject well and has excellent insights but does not feel the need to insert "filler" facts.

The decade of the Sixties began a broad replacement effort by both the Soviet Union and United States, Britain, and France to replace WW Two-generation medium and light tanks. Technologies were pushed mostly in gun technologies, focused on fielding larger gun calibre's (to 105, 115, and 120-mm).The wars in the Middle East spurred this - particularly the Arab-Israeli 1973 war - towards the end of the mid-70s.This is the third volume focused on the tanks across the "Iron Curtain", by Steve Z. It follows the patter of the earlier two volumes of the series: TANKS AT THE IRON CURTAIN, 1946-1960 and TANKS IN THE BATTLE OF GERMANY 1945. The author has taken several recent declassified documents, including Russian, and made use of them in these titles.Each of the key chapters separates aspects of each of the four countries main battle tanks; chapter titles being:* The Tanks, Doctrine, and Organization (p.9)* Tanks in Battle (p.34) [though noted never across NATO - Warsaw Pact border lines]* Technical Analysis. (p.40)* Further Reading* IndexIn mid- to high-40's page counts, Zaloga packs as much data as one could conceive, providing the reader a summary view of the Cold War and its development of both MBT and light tanks. If you, as a reader, like or are "into" armored vehicles, this is a worthy title to have - unless you have a huge library already. Still, there are gems to be found, including Russian vehicle decisions on design selections, and within the technical analysis of various tanks.It is unfortunate each Vanguard-series booklets is under fifty pages, for the author has much more to contribute that clearly could not be included, especially in Russian tank development background. Then again, Osprey would not want the same amount of money it has in the past for these either!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !

thank you

Nothing new, too brief on combat use, no new information. A dull read

Buona ricostruzione e descrizione del periodo. Però è un prodotto facile. Si poteva offrire al lettore qualcosa in più, soprattutto nei commenti.

Un peu trop sommaire mais le format de la collection l'impose sans doute. Un effort louable pour contractualiser les informations