As I have mentioned before I often buy books in The Works as they are so cheap. I have seen this book before but dismissed it as a gimmick and not a serious book. However on my last visit I actually picked up the book and had a look. prompted by the fact that, like so many others I made lots of the Airfix 88 gun kits as a boy. Was I surprised !!!! The book is excellent.
Most of the content is based on post war US Army analysis and inspection of the gun using captured examples. Also used are translations of the original technical manuals. The result is a highly detailed examination of this very important and hugely successful weapon. There is a good history of the gun's development, it's tactical use and the development of the 88 from its original anti aircraft role into a tank buster and use in tanks like the Tiger and Panther.
The technical chapters are fascinating including even the daily maintenance tasks required of the crew. The gun was a typical example of German engineering, superbly made but probably too complex and therefore expensive and hard to make in quantity, a problem affecting the majority of German military vehicles and equipment through out the war.
Other interesting items include the fact that the vast majority of these guns were used as flak to protect German cities and factories during the war. Not surprising when you consider that's what the gun was designed for, however its use as an anti tank gun is so well known that you would be forgiven for thinking they were common on the battlefield which was not the case at all. It was only in the last few months of the war that flak batteries were sent to the eastern front to stem the Russian advances. Unfortunately by then the crews were not trained in anti tank warfare and both guns and crews did not survive long against the Russians.
Overall an excellent book on a super weapon and highly recommended to students of German military equipment.
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