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Tanks: 100 years of evolution
From an internationally acclaimed expert in the field comes a detailed, analytical and comprehensive account of the worldwide evolution of tanks, from their inception a century ago to the present day. With new ideas stemming from the latest academic research, this study presents a reappraisal of the development of tanks and their evolution during World War I and how the surge in technological development during World War II and the subsequent Cold War drove developments in armour in Europe and America, transforming tanks into fast, resilient and powerful fighting machines.
From the primitive, bizarre-looking Mark V to the Matilda and from the menacing King Tiger to the superlative M1 Abrams, Professor Ogorkiewicz shows how tanks gradually acquired the enhanced capabilities that enabled them to become what they are today – the core of combined-arms, mechanized warfare.
From the primitive, bizarre-looking Mark V to the Matilda and from the menacing King Tiger to the superlative M1 Abrams, Professor Ogorkiewicz shows how tanks gradually acquired the enhanced capabilities that enabled them to become what they are today – the core of combined-arms, mechanized warfare.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 20, 2023
自從俄烏戰爭爆發以來，不管是業餘的軍迷，還是專家，除了戰事的發展之外，另一個緊密關注的焦點就是武器的表現。不論是最夯的無人機，還是已經有百年史的坦克，都是關注的焦點。特別是後者，曾經是西歐國家夢魘的蘇聯紅軍，號稱「鋼鐵洪流」的裝甲部隊，儘管只是繼承者，但俄軍坦克這次的表現卻跌破大家眼鏡。在烏克蘭人均一支反坦武器「標槍」或者是新式無人機的攻擊之下，幾乎是任人宰割。一時間「坦克無用論」聲囂塵上，彷如全世界的戰車都可以直接當廢鐵拆了一樣。當然，在理性的專家眼中，肯定是嗤之以鼻的。很顯然這些人才是真正搞不清楚狀況，他們是把戰車當做像是古代猛將在軍中的地位，還是知名球星在團體運動中神奇表現那樣地看待，真以為有了這種武器就可以無堅不摧一樣萬能。其實，如果他們有認真讀書的話，或許就比較不會做出這種結論了，例如，本書。
其實，市面上關於坦克的書也算是相當豐富，而我看上《世界坦克一百年》，主要是作者理查‧奧戈凱維奇，他寫這本書不單只是那種圖鑑跟陳列數據，更多是介紹各大國如何按照自己的軍事傳統與學說，來發展與設計戰車。在一個講究總體戰的年代，戰車只是體系裡面的一顆螺絲，它不能脫離該國本身的國情，否則十之八九會適應不良。簡單的例子，西歐、以色列等國家重視組員安全，在設計上就會重心放更多在舒適度跟安全性；反之，俄羅斯人命不值錢，就重量重質就是不重安全，不論是戰車還是組員都是「可割可棄」。他們設計出來的坦克就不可能是一回事。如果你將這些國家們的坦克洗牌，會產生什麼樣的化學反應，感覺很可怕。
除此之外，本書後的附錄個人反而覺得更是重頭戲，作者針對戰車設計的幾個面向：火力、防禦、機動等，做成各個專欄詳述，這些才是真正了解一輛戰車性能的關鍵指標，有心研究的都該好好詳讀。
理查‧奧戈凱維奇撰寫本書時，除了專訪了各國還在世的許多設計人員外，他自己也曾有參與設計的經驗，這是很特別的。
這本書比較可惜的是，配圖相對少，只有一些主要的車輛。個人非常推薦大石文化《終極戰車百科：史上最完整的裝甲車輛大圖鑑》(9789578722903)搭配著看，保證功力大增。喜歡戰車的朋友，架上真的都該有。
其實，市面上關於坦克的書也算是相當豐富，而我看上《世界坦克一百年》，主要是作者理查‧奧戈凱維奇，他寫這本書不單只是那種圖鑑跟陳列數據，更多是介紹各大國如何按照自己的軍事傳統與學說，來發展與設計戰車。在一個講究總體戰的年代，戰車只是體系裡面的一顆螺絲，它不能脫離該國本身的國情，否則十之八九會適應不良。簡單的例子，西歐、以色列等國家重視組員安全，在設計上就會重心放更多在舒適度跟安全性；反之，俄羅斯人命不值錢，就重量重質就是不重安全，不論是戰車還是組員都是「可割可棄」。他們設計出來的坦克就不可能是一回事。如果你將這些國家們的坦克洗牌，會產生什麼樣的化學反應，感覺很可怕。
除此之外，本書後的附錄個人反而覺得更是重頭戲，作者針對戰車設計的幾個面向：火力、防禦、機動等，做成各個專欄詳述，這些才是真正了解一輛戰車性能的關鍵指標，有心研究的都該好好詳讀。
理查‧奧戈凱維奇撰寫本書時，除了專訪了各國還在世的許多設計人員外，他自己也曾有參與設計的經驗，這是很特別的。
這本書比較可惜的是，配圖相對少，只有一些主要的車輛。個人非常推薦大石文化《終極戰車百科：史上最完整的裝甲車輛大圖鑑》(9789578722903)搭配著看，保證功力大增。喜歡戰車的朋友，架上真的都該有。
November 19, 2018
A bit disappointed with this book. Even though it covers 100 years of tanks, I think too much was dedicated to the first 39 years. It would have been helpful if there were pictures of these early AFVs.
The strongest parts of the book were chapters 9-11. They covered the post-WWII period.
The strongest parts of the book were chapters 9-11. They covered the post-WWII period.
April 5, 2017
I like tanks and so found this book really interesting. However, its extensive technical detail is probably not for the casual reader.
"The writer" (as he likes to refer to himself in the text) starts with the early pre-WWI prototypes of military tracked vehicles based on agricultural tractors. It was fascinating to read that every army dismissed the concept of such a vehicle and universally preferred horses instead. It made me wonder what was being dismissed by conservative militaries in the present day.
He then follows the development of tanks through WWI, the inter-war period, WWII and the Cold War, finishing with the latest tanks; these chapters focus on the main European powers, Russia and the USA. Strangely, the book then has two chapters to wrap up tank development by other countries. The first of these covers countries like Israel, Brazil, Sweden and Switzerland. Then tank development in Asia is covered in a single chapter, from WWI to the present. This separation seemed a little odd.
Throughout these chapters, he covers the features of the tanks of that period, the rationale for their development, including the rationale for certain features, who was involved, and a brief insight into operational use - mainly to explain why tanks developed in a certain way. He includes some very obscure tanks in his text, and the book would have benefitted from more illustrations to help understand the descriptions.
I was interested to note how tank numbers in the West really wax and wane (depending whether they are still seen as useful), from countries having thousands or even tens of thousands, to just a couple of hundred. By contrast, tank numbers in Russia have remained consistently high, with a consistently high reliance on them in their doctrine (that applied pre-WWII as well as post-WWII). Hence new tanks haven't really been developed for a couple of decades in the West, as it is presently a waning period (as was post-WWII).
While he doesn't set out to identify the "best" tanks, I couldn't help but pick out those that stood out in each period (combining good mobility, armament and protection):
WWII: the Panther from Germany (no surprise)
1950s: the Centurion from Britain (excellent gun, good all-rounder)
1960s: the T62 or T64 from the Soviet Union (revolutionary automatic loader for the gun, smoothbore gun and good protection, good engine)
1980s/1990s: the Leopard 2 from Germany (this surprised me, as I thought the M1 Abrams, Challenger 2 or Leclerc might be better - especially the M1 - but the Leopard 2's diesel engine and fire control system are both much superior to the M1)
2000s: the Type 90 from Japan (surprisingly, probably the most advanced tank in the world at the moment, with excellent fire control system, automatic loader, good protection and good engine - but Japan is forbidden from exporting it)
"The writer" (as he likes to refer to himself in the text) starts with the early pre-WWI prototypes of military tracked vehicles based on agricultural tractors. It was fascinating to read that every army dismissed the concept of such a vehicle and universally preferred horses instead. It made me wonder what was being dismissed by conservative militaries in the present day.
He then follows the development of tanks through WWI, the inter-war period, WWII and the Cold War, finishing with the latest tanks; these chapters focus on the main European powers, Russia and the USA. Strangely, the book then has two chapters to wrap up tank development by other countries. The first of these covers countries like Israel, Brazil, Sweden and Switzerland. Then tank development in Asia is covered in a single chapter, from WWI to the present. This separation seemed a little odd.
Throughout these chapters, he covers the features of the tanks of that period, the rationale for their development, including the rationale for certain features, who was involved, and a brief insight into operational use - mainly to explain why tanks developed in a certain way. He includes some very obscure tanks in his text, and the book would have benefitted from more illustrations to help understand the descriptions.
I was interested to note how tank numbers in the West really wax and wane (depending whether they are still seen as useful), from countries having thousands or even tens of thousands, to just a couple of hundred. By contrast, tank numbers in Russia have remained consistently high, with a consistently high reliance on them in their doctrine (that applied pre-WWII as well as post-WWII). Hence new tanks haven't really been developed for a couple of decades in the West, as it is presently a waning period (as was post-WWII).
While he doesn't set out to identify the "best" tanks, I couldn't help but pick out those that stood out in each period (combining good mobility, armament and protection):
WWII: the Panther from Germany (no surprise)
1950s: the Centurion from Britain (excellent gun, good all-rounder)
1960s: the T62 or T64 from the Soviet Union (revolutionary automatic loader for the gun, smoothbore gun and good protection, good engine)
1980s/1990s: the Leopard 2 from Germany (this surprised me, as I thought the M1 Abrams, Challenger 2 or Leclerc might be better - especially the M1 - but the Leopard 2's diesel engine and fire control system are both much superior to the M1)
2000s: the Type 90 from Japan (surprisingly, probably the most advanced tank in the world at the moment, with excellent fire control system, automatic loader, good protection and good engine - but Japan is forbidden from exporting it)
July 21, 2022
Jak w tytule, ta pozycja to historia czołgów od samego początku. Dużo informacji, momentami może nawet za dużo. Mnie pewnie zadowoliłby tylko wycinek tej historii, autor podszedł jednak do tematu bardzo profesjonalnie.
May 3, 2021
A superlative volume that traces the origins of the tank to the modern day. Richard Ogorkiewicz was the foremost luminary when it comes to tanks and armoured fighting vehicles and he had written several highly influential volumes decades back.
In this volume, he traced the origins of the tank, from the earliest armed tractor to early tanks in the Great War. Each significant tank producing nation is examined in this treatise, the earliest years in the Great War, the interwar years, the Second World and the postwar period.
The three appendices are especially illuminating as Ogorkiewicz examined armour, firepower and mobility in terms of engines, transmissions and more.
Recommended.
In this volume, he traced the origins of the tank, from the earliest armed tractor to early tanks in the Great War. Each significant tank producing nation is examined in this treatise, the earliest years in the Great War, the interwar years, the Second World and the postwar period.
The three appendices are especially illuminating as Ogorkiewicz examined armour, firepower and mobility in terms of engines, transmissions and more.
Recommended.
March 30, 2024
It is a nice book for tank nerds. Still, it misses more pictures, schematics, and infographics because the amount of info is quite overwhelming and contains many technical details that are much easier to understand when presented more interactive. As well it needs a revision currently with the new war going on in Ukraine and the ramp-up of investments in the military sectors and combat tests of some tanks mentioned in the book.
July 1, 2020
Como dice otro lector el libro es un océano de información sobre la historia de los tanques pero uno en el que, a menos que tengas interés en conocer hasta el último modelo de carro de combate de cada país, te puedes ahogar. Es probablemente el libro que más he tardado en leer de manera medianamente constante en toda mi vida.
April 6, 2019
A great book on the history of tanks right from the early development up to the modern day. Could have done with pictures more frequently as the tanks were mentioned.
April 21, 2020
Boom, boom... really wanted to learn more about these steel menaces and this book was just what I needed! :p
May 13, 2020
Author is a leading expert on the subject and the book is well structured and easy to read.
A must read for those interested in the history and technological development of tanks.
A must read for those interested in the history and technological development of tanks.
July 5, 2020
This is the definitive tank textbook. If you want to take your tank knowledge to a new level this is the book for you.
September 1, 2020
Amazing tank book.
August 19, 2021
Informative, written by an expert.
June 15, 2016
a book to be read by military specialist only
not for me at all
not for me at all
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews