New Vanguard SC (1993 Osprey Military) comic books 1997-1999

Volume 21 - 1st printing. "Merkava Main Battle Tank MKs I, II & III!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Peter Sarson. The Merkava, or Chariot, was the first tank entirely designed and built by the Israeli Army. The IDF had previously been using a variety of vehicles, acquired from various sources, including in particular the Sherman and Centurion. The Merkava was designed specifically for the type of warfare and opponents that Israel faced. The resulting tank was heavily armoured and packed a powerful 105mm main gun backed up with a digital fire control system and laser range-finder. This title examines the development and deployment of the Merkava, investigating the changing technical aspects of the various marks, creating a useful and comprehensive study of Israel's most formidable tank. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 22 - 1st printing. "Panther Variants 1942–45!" Written by Hilary Doyle and Tom Jentz Art by Peter Sarson. The Panther Medium Tank was produced as a direct result of early experiences with the revolutionary Soviet T-34/76. Designers and military experts combined to produce a number of variations to provide armoured support for the many branches of the German army. Whether acting as a command communications vehicle, involved in mobile air defence as a flakpanzer, a Panzer division recovery vehicle, or utilising the turret as a static defence system, the Panther in its many forms was the mainstay of Germany's plan to keep her enemies at bay on two fronts. This book, the product of 25 years of research, examines the numerous Panther variants in detail.. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 23 - 1st printing. "Challenger Main Battle Tank 1982–97!" Written by Simon Dunstan. Art by Peter Sarson. The successor to the Chieftain from the 1960's, work began in 1976 on development of a new MBT specifically for the Iranian army, who needed a more capable tank than the Chieftain to suit their climatic and geographical conditions. However, once the revolution occurred in 1979 the British army was reluctantly forced to accept this new design themselves. Once in service there were technical problems resulting in various modifications. However, the Challenger would go on to great success in the Gulf War, playing crucial roles in both Desert Storm and Desert Sabre operations. In this book, Simon Dunstan examines this tank in detail, evaluating its performance both on the test range and in the field of battle. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 24 - 1st printing. "Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank 1979–98!" Written by Simon Dunstan. Art by Peter Sarson. The successor to the Chieftain from the 1960's, work began in 1976 on development of a new MBT specifically for the Iranian army, who needed a more capable tank than the Chieftain to suit their climatic and geographical conditions. However, once the revolution occurred in 1979 the British army was reluctantly forced to accept this new design themselves. Once in service there were technical problems resulting in various modifications. However, the Challenger would go on to great success in the Gulf War, playing crucial roles in both Desert Storm and Desert Sabre operations. In this book, Simon Dunstan examines this tank in detail, evaluating its performance both on the test range and in the field of battle. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 25 - 1st printing. "SdKfz 251 Half-Track 1939–45!" Written by Bruce Culver. Art by Jim Laurier. Following in the best traditions of German ingenuity in design and construction of armoured vehicles, the SdKfz 251 firmly realised the concept of a competent cross-country tactical vehicle for armoured infantry units. So successful was this half-track that not only did a modified version of it remain in use with Czech forces well into the 1980s but also, ironically, the armoured infantry tactics that the Germans pioneered with it were adopted by Allied forces in the Second World War and helped them to achieve the eventual defeat of Germany. This book covers the genesis and development of the SdKfz 251, and details the numerous modifications and variations that sprang from combat experience. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 26 - 1st printing. "German Light Panzers 1932–42" Written by Bruce Culver. Art by Jim Laurier. The light tanks of the Panzerwaffe make a fascinating subject for technical and historical study. Operation Barbarossa was the light tanks' swan song: thoroughly experienced and at the peak of self-confidence, the Panzergruppen brought Moscow to almost within Hitler's grasp. However, the effectiveness and popularity of the light panzers was only proven because Hitler's Panzerwaffe (despite their technical excellence) was poorly equipped. The critically short supply of the Panzerkampfwagen III and IV placed an ever-increasing onus on the light tanks that filled out the Panzerwaffe's ranks during the glory years. In this book, Bryan Perrett examines the evolution of the PzKpfw I and II. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 27 - 1st printing. "Panzerkampfwagen III Medium Tank 1936–44!" Written by Bruce Culver. Art by Jim Laurier. The light tanks of the Panzerwaffe make a fascinating subject for technical and historical study. Operation Barbarossa was the light tanks' swan song: thoroughly experienced and at the peak of self-confidence, the Panzergruppen brought Moscow to almost within Hitler's grasp. However, the effectiveness and popularity of the light panzers was only proven because Hitler's Panzerwaffe (despite their technical excellence) was poorly equipped. The critically short supply of the Panzerkampfwagen III and IV placed an ever-increasing onus on the light tanks that filled out the Panzerwaffe's ranks during the glory years. In this book, Bryan Perrett examines the evolution of the PzKpfw I and II. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 28 - 1st printing. "Panzerkampfwagen IV Medium Tank 1936–45!" Written by Bryan Perrett. Art by David Smith. The PzKpfw IV was essentially an integrated support weapon, and its involvement in WWII is difficult to separate from the story of the Panzerwaffe as a whole. A powerful and robust fighting machine, the PzKpfw IV was supplied to various allies of Germany, and remained in service with the Spanish and Finnish armies for some time after the end of the war. In the glory years of 1942-43 the PzKpfw IV was the mainstay of the Panzerwaffe, and Bryan Perrett's in-depth examination of this prolific fighting machine does full justice to the fascinating history and technical details of one of the greatest armoured vehicles ever to have fought. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 29 - 1st printing. "German Armoured Cars and Reconnaissance Half-Tracks 1939–45!" Written by Bryan Perrett. Art by David Smith. Flexibility, mobility, and the ability to effectively communicate were all key requirements that the units operating armoured cars and reconnaissance half-tracks demanded – and that were also crucial to the Panzerwaffe and German Army as a whole. Bryan Perrett's treatment of the development and history of German armoured cars and recce vehicles fully accounts for the crucial role that such units, and more importantly their vehicles, played during the course of World War II. Full orders of battle are also given, along with technical details and specifications of the vehicles assigned to particular units. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 30 - 1st printing. "Amtracs!" Written by Bryan Perrett. Art by David Smith. Flexibility, mobility, and the ability to effectively communicate were all key requirements that the units operating armoured cars and reconnaissance half-tracks demanded – and that were also crucial to the Panzerwaffe and German Army as a whole. Bryan Perrett's treatment of the development and history of German armoured cars and recce vehicles fully accounts for the crucial role that such units, and more importantly their vehicles, played during the course of World War II. Full orders of battle are also given, along with technical details and specifications of the vehicles assigned to particular units. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 31 - 1st printing. "The M47 and M48 Patton Tanks!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Jim Laurier. With Cold War fears mounting, the M47 and M48 were rushed into production – teething troubles were inevitable. In the decade that followed, however, these tanks proved to be the backbone of US armoured units. In its lifetime, the Patton has played vital roles in three wars, including Vietnam, and has served with more than 25 nations; it has spawned derivatives such as the Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge, an anti-aircraft variant, and has undergone diverse armament modifications. This book provides a comprehensive view of the M47 and M48 Patton tanks, combining technical information with fascinating accounts of the performance, development and deployment of this battle-tested and truly international fighting machine. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 32 - 1st printing. "The Long Range Desert Group 1940-1945!" Written by Robin Jenner. Art by Peter Sarson. Formed on 3 July 1940, the Long Range Desert Group was the brilliant product of the vision of Major Ralph Bagnold of the Royal Corps of Signals. As a model for what is now commonly know as a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol unit, the Group can have few equals. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 33 - 1st printing. "M3 & M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940–45!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Jim Laurier. The M3 and M5 family of light tanks were the culmination of American tank development of the 1930s. By the time of the outbreak of the World War II, they were approaching obsolescence, as tank forces in Europe were shifting from light to medium tanks as the main element of their armored forces. First entering combat in the autumn of 1941 in the Western Desert with the British Army, the Stuart quickly proved its inadequacies. The M3 and M5 light tanks proved more suitable in the Pacific theater than in Europe, and fought successfully in many of the major battles including Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Peleliu. This title narrates this distinctive and unusual fighting vehicle's history. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 33 - 2nd and later printings. "M3 & M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940–45!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Jim Laurier. The M3 and M5 family of light tanks were the culmination of American tank development of the 1930s. By the time of the outbreak of the World War II, they were approaching obsolescence, as tank forces in Europe were shifting from light to medium tanks as the main element of their armored forces. First entering combat in the autumn of 1941 in the Western Desert with the British Army, the Stuart quickly proved its inadequacies. The M3 and M5 light tanks proved more suitable in the Pacific theater than in Europe, and fought successfully in many of the major battles including Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Peleliu. This title narrates this distinctive and unusual fighting vehicle's history. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 34 - 1st printing. "Sturmartillerie & Panzerjäger 1939–45!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Jim Laurier. Originally the German assault gun was designed as an infantry support weapon, but the changing conditions of the battlefields of the Second World War forced it to adapt to perform a number of different roles, most importantly as a tank destroyer, although the infantry support role was never wholly discarded. If the much-glamorised Panzer divisions were the sword of the German army then the assault gun and tank destroyer units were its shield. As the Panzers' grip on the battlefield began to fail, though, it was left to the assault gun and tank destroyer crews to take up the burden. Softcover, 48 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.