T-34 Tank Owners' Workshop Manual: 1940 to date (all models) - Insights into the most influential tank designs of the 20th century and the mainstay of ... units in World War 2 (Haynes Manuals)
K**N
I FINALLY got my tank running!
OK, there's not actually a tank in my life, but this is a fantastic book about the T-34. It does have many diagrams and pictures of various parts of the tank. But it's also a precise history of the tank as well. It's a very enjoyable book. I guess this is termed a "coffee table" book. You can open the book anywhere and find interesting information. I especially loved coming to understand what the ... sort of "frame" of the tank looked like alone, and how that was designed. Very interesting.
J**P
The most legendary tank of WW2
The T 34 is without a doubt the greatest tank of WWII if not in all of history. It’s a testament of its legendary reputation that it is still in service to this day in third world countries.
K**W
Great book
Good book on the development of the T-34
**Y
Development of the T-34
A very thorough review of the design, development and use of the T-34 tank
D**R
Actual rating is closer to 3.5 stars...
Haynes has been kind of weird lately. Although they've been pumping out these faux "workshop manuals" for years now, they still can't seem to figure out how to divide up technical, historical, and operational details in an equitable manner. I've noticed that their tank manuals published in association with the Bovington Tank Museum are much better than the ones which aren't, and this is no exception. It's essentially a book in two parts - a pretty good one on the design, manufacture, and combat use of the T-34, and a mediocre one on the technical aspects of the tank.As someone who's not exactly a treadhead, I appreciated how much time was spent on the historical side of things. Mark Healy does an excellent job describing the evolution of Soviet tank design, Red Army tank doctrine, and the development of the T-34. The history of the tank's role in World War Two is well-written, concise, and heavily illustrated with gritty combat photography without getting bogged down in minutiae. The T-34's shortcomings and advantages are explained succinctly, without resorting to hyperbole. There are some excellent asides in the first half, including descriptions of the relocation of tank factories in 1941/42, self-propelled guns based on the T-34 chassis, and a photo gallery of "Beutepanzers" (T-34s captured by the Germans). The T-34's post-war career is also described, but in nowhere near as much detail.The main issue I have with this "manual" is that the technical material, usually the main reason for buying any book in this series, is awfully stingy. Only about 40 pages, essentially an expanded appendix, are devoted to describing the tank's inner workings, mobility systems, and armament. The technical descriptions and diagrams (most of which lack keys) largely come from the British School of Tank Technology report. There's an interesting set of walk-around photos of two museum T-34/85s, but unfortunately only a few interior photographs.I feel kind of bad giving this one three stars, but the relative lack of technical material holds me back from giving it four. Had the page count been upped a bit, and the "Anatomy of the T-34" chapter fleshed out a bit, this could have been a classic. As it is, it's a pretty decent introduction to the T-34 which suffers from some of the limitations of the Haynes format.
M**K
Absolute low class
This is a bad joke! This book does not qualify as "Owners' Workshop Manual". The editor of this series needs a good talking to. Healy has some other books on Assyrian and Egyptian armies of ancient times. He should stay with that subject and leave modern tanks alone.There is no original research in this publication. What you get is regurgitated material from other WWII books by other authors dealing with Eastern Front stories and legends. Towards the end of this book you get maybe 30 pages of technical material which isn't new. This comes from already existing publications (German, Polish, US or internet).There is no technical evaluation, engineering analysis, detail illustrations, technical manual, operating, repair and maintenance instructions in this one. No museum or junk yard photos showing the anatomy of this tank type, does not cover engine, transmission, fuel and cooling system, armament and ammunition, optics, radios etc. You are not going to find out how to restore, maintain, operate this tank from this "Owners' Manual"!! Here we have a one mediocre British publication!
A**R
Nice book.
Very unhappy that it arrived damaged !! Packaging was poorly done !
E**W
Good book, wrong title but worth reading
The book is 75% about the development history of the tank and covers quite well the political background that determined the evolution of the design. The promise that it is a "workshop manual" should be taken as a joke. There are only 40 pages on the technical aspects with some good pictures but very few technical drawings. You don't get a clear description of the drive train, there is a brief mention of the compressed air engine starter which was ideal for winter time, but no description of it. Fortunately there is some material on the internet which might complement the poor technical presentation in the book: "T-34 Tank Service Manual" translated from Russian during the war and "Engineering Analysis of the Russian T-34/85 Tank" a CIA report from 1951 and approved for release in 2000.The book contains some nuggets of information that make the reading worthwhile. You learn what determined North Korea to attack the South after the withdrawal of American forces and a small technical detail about an ingenious simple method for keeping in the pins holding the track links together.
P**I
Haynes T-34
Buon libro , completo con ottime foto e schemi. Tratta in maniera spddisfacente anche la parte tecnica. Prezzo adeguato.
M**S
Accurate handbook
I ordered this for my husband who is helping rebuild a T-34 Tank at the ONR Museum in Oshawa. When I gave this to him, he said this was the exact copy that they have on hand at the museum for reference. He was extremely thrilled to have this.
M**E
T34 great book
Great book with lots of great Photos. Recommend
L**Y
I like the book BUT it’s not what I expected.
I like the book BUT it’s not what I expected.I expected moor mechanical information of the T-34, like engine details, weapon details, schematics, and al the different types.About 80% of the book is history of the tank.And 20% is about the mechanical stuff, that isn’t that interesting, and the pictures aren’t even that good.So you have a T-34 and want to fix it don’t buy this book.You want to learn about the history buy it.But don’t expect a real Owners' Workshop Manual.
W**R
great book
great book
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