audiobook Panzer III: Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. A to N (SdKfz 141) (Owners' Workshop Manual) by Michael Hayton; Dick Taylor in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Pretty well-rounded look at the Pz Kpfw IIIBy Daryl CarpenterAlthough I have a mild interest in the history; development; and inner workings of armored fighting vehicles; I'm not a "treadhead" by any stretch of the word. Therefore; I can't really attest to the accuracy of this book. I've enjoyed Haynes' other tank manuals; and was definitely looking forward to this one. The result is a pretty solid; well rounded reference - not quite as polished or in-depth as some of the books in the series; but definitely a fine addition to the library of any armor buff.Despite being only 172 pages; this book packs in quite a lot of information without feeling suffocatingly detailed. The early chapters lay out the evolution of German tank design and doctrine in the interwar period; production problems; and the many Panzer III variants. The middle includes chapters on the internal and mechanical arrangements of the tank; the main armament and types of ammunition; and a "walkthrough" of the Tank Museum's restored Ausf.L. Finally; there's a chapter providing a concise operational history of the tank; and a chapter covering the restoration of the aforementioned Ausf.L. There are many period "in action" photographs; including a number in color. Sprinkled through are numerous tables detailing the specifications of each major model; production statistics by month and manufacturer; ammunition performance; and divisional strengths during several major campaigns. On a historical level; this book is pretty strong.On the other hand; it's a little bit shaky on a technical level. Although there are many excellent diagrams; technical details; and interior photographs; it seems to miss a certain something for a "workshop manual." What I loved about the Tiger Manual was all the "how it works" material - how to start the engine; how to load and fire the gun; pictures of oil-spattered guys in a workshop taking apart a transmission; etc. This book takes a less hands-on and more detached approach. The historical details and insights into tank design are fascinating; but I was expecting additional technical details to support the "workshop manual" subtitle.As much as I love this series; it's been a long time since I bestowed a five star ranking on one. This is another solid entry which just falls short of greatness. Maybe I'm getting a little burned out (I feel like I'm simultaneously Haynes' biggest cheerleader and biggest critic at this point); but I feel like Haynes needs to shake things up a little bit at this point.0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy E Bay Z1Another great book in the series.0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great Book!By CustomerIf you are interested in the Panzer III; this book is for you. Well written and informative. I plan on buying the Tiger manual next;