Soviet
Heavy Breakthrough Tank KV-2
By Jochen Vollert
Tankograd Soviet Special No 2001.
Soft cover, A4 size, 64 pages
Review by Peter Brown
Of the two big shocks the German found waiting for them when they invaded Russia
in 1941, the heavy KV series was proof against all but a well-handled 88mm FLAK
gun. Two series were encountered, the 76mm armed version and the KV-2 with its
huge turret and equally impressive 152mm gun which is described in this book.
Development history is covered in dual German and English text, but modellers
will appreciate the extensive photo coverage and plans as much if not more. Plans
include 1/72 four-views showing four different prototype vehicles, with a 1/35
four view of the series production 1940 model plus plans of one of prototype
turret. Both prototype and production versions are well covered in photos, the
former were used in action during the early period of the Barbarossa campaign
as well as the production tanks. Most photos are not surprisingly in black and
white, many are soldier's snapshots showing abandoned vehicles being inspected
but there is a series of a preserved KV-2 in Moscow including a couple of colour
views and the text points out various non-original features of this museum exhibit.
One a section covers the KW-2 - as they called it - captured by the Germans and
used for training, including those modified for actual service with partial plans
of the changes made. A short chapter covers the effective of various German guns
against the KV, and there is a bonus of three original colour images, though
one is mostly a silhouette view the others are full vehicle shots.
The big-turret KV is an impressive subject in real life and model form, this
is a good addition to the bookshelf of modellers and students of Soviet AFVs
of the Great Patriotic War. Produced to the same high quality as the parent
Tankograd Militarfahrzeug series it is available from several distributors.
For more
details contact the publishers Verlag Jochen Vollert on jochenvollert@tankograd.com
Page created 31 July 2004
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