Mike Badrocke – illustratör

From 1943 the British began the design of a tank that bore distinct similarities to the German Panther tank.Designed as a Universal Tank, the design emerged in mid-1945 as the Centurion, used in action by the British Army in 1991 during the Gulf War. It has also seen action with the Israeli Defence Forces, the Indian Army in the wars with Pakistan and the Australian Army in Vietnam.This book details all the variants of the Centurion used in these conflicts as well as covering the specialised variants used by the British in the Gulf War.

The Jagdpanzer 38 is one of the best known German armoured fighting vehicles from World War II.Rushed into series production in the record time of less than four months, it was instantly recognisable by the sleek appearance created by its well-sloped armour. Many experts in post-war armour hold the opinion that this tank destroyer was just the answer to Germany's problem of dealing with the numerically superior American M4 Medium tank (known to the British Army as the Sherman) and the Russian T-34.This is a compact guide to this key German tank's design and development, featuring illustrations throughout.

The US Army had a unique tactical doctrine during World War II - placing the emphasis for tank fighting on its Tank Destroyer Command whose main early-war vehicle was the M10 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage, based on the reliable M4A2 Sherman tank chassis.This durable and versatile vehicle saw combat service from the North Africa campaign in 1943. By 1944, its gun was not powerful enough and it was rearmed with the new 90 mm gun, becoming the M36 90mm Gun Motor Carriage.This book details one of the only US armoured vehicles capable of dealing with the Panther and Tiger during the Battle of the Bulge.

The US Army requirement for a light utility helicopter was formulated after the Korean War.Bell's Model 204 design won a competition in 1955, and was given the military designation H-40, later renamed the HU-1 Iroquois. The original design called for a helicopter that could be used for transport, airborne battlefield command and control, medical evacuation, fire support co-ordination and search and rescue. Later its missions would be expanded to include troop insertion/extraction, armed escort and special operations.This title details all the technological background behind the development and use of the Huey “Slick” in Vietnam, as well as covering all the major uses that this transport aircraft was put to.

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.

In 1963 West Germany and the United States signed an agreement to develop the best tank in the world the MBT/KPz-70.Though by 1970 this project was stopped, West Germany used the components created for the MBT/KPz-70 to develop a new main battle tank the Leopard 2. Since 1979, when the first Leopard 2 rolled off the production line, the Leopard 2 has undergone various modifications, and has been exported to various European countries.Enhanced by Osprey's signature colour plates and cutaway artwork, this book examines the development of the Leopard 2 from the first batch to its evolution into the improved Leopard 2 A5, detailing its features and variants.

During the glory years of blitzkrieg the PzKpfw III was the only weapon in the German tank arsenal that really counted.Like Napoleon's vieux moustaches, it did not merely witness history in the making – it made it, from the Channel to the Volga, and from the Arctic to the North African desert. It was the PzKpfw III that brought Hitler to the gates of Moscow and the closest to achieving his wildest dreams.This detailed study delves into the development and employment of the PzKpfw III, as well as its organisation and battlefield experience, illustrated by an examination of the battles in which it took part.