Combining the destructive firepower of the famous 8.8cm gun with the mobility of the Pzkpfw IV medium tank, the Panzerjäger Nashorn, or rhinoceros, was quite possibly one of the most effective tank destroyers of the Second World War, although less than 500 were built. Issued to specially created heavy anti-tank battalions the Nashorn went into action for the first time during Operation Citadel, the battles around Kursk on the Eastern Front, in mid-1943 where it was immediately hailed as a success. Initial doubts about the vehicle's lack of thick armour, or even a roof for the superstructure, were forgotten when it was found that the 8.8cm gun, backed by superior gun sights and range-findering optics, could destroy the heaviest Soviet tanks while the Nashorn remained out of range. Examples also found their way to Italy and the Western Front but it was really on the open fields of eastern Europe that the Nashorn excelled. In his latest book in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses contemporary photographs and meticulously researched, superbly presented colour and monochrome illustrations to tell the story of these self-propelled anti-tank weapons and the units which operated them in the German defence of the Eastern Front. As with all the books in the TankCraft series, a large part of this work showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of expertly constructed and painted models. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also explained giving the modeller all the information and knowledge required.
