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by Frank Baldwin.
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 80 pages. 2025.
Subtitle: North-West Europe 1944-45
Design, development, and deployment of both types of tank destroyers notes that these two armored fighting vehicles rarely met on the field of battle. There weren’t many of either: 1,019 M-10s and 415 Jagdpanthers.
UK modified a M-10 turret to take the 17lber (76.2mm) AT gun. The Jagdpanther modified a Pz V hull to take an 88mm AT Gun, but without a turret, it could only traverse 12 degrees left or right of the center position.
The two AT guns were effective, but in action, the 88mm was 89% accurate to 1,000 yards and 47% accurate to 2,000 yards (p73). German tank doctrine was to fire at 2,500 yards — assuming a clear field at that range.
The 17lber on first round was 46% accurate to 1,000 yards and only 10% accurate to 2,000 yards (p74) against a Tiger tank-sized target. On subsequent rounds, the accuracy increased to 94% accurate to 1,000 yards and 50% accurate to 2,000 yards (p74).
However, the M-10 was far more reliable and mobile, only breaking down 1% of the time on road marches. The Jagdpanther had a 10% to 20% breakdown rate. In addition, more bridges could bear the lighter M-10’s weight than the heavier Jagdpanther (p38).
The booklet contains 40 black and white photos, 22 color photos, 16 color camouflage illustrations (eight M-10 and eight Jagdpanther), four color illustrations, two color maps, and two color diagrams.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
