Author(s): Robert Forsyth; Jim Laurier (Illustrator); Gareth Hector (Illustrator)

Military

This is the account of machines of war pitted against each other and the combatants who operated them. Step onto the battlefield and immerse yourself in the experience of real historic combat. Ju 87D/G Stuka vs T-34 Eastern Front 1942-45 In this action-packed volume, two of the most iconic air and land weapons to be deployed in World War II clash on the Eastern Front. In 1942, the Ju 87 Stuka - the symbol of Blitzkrieg - was developed at the behest of the German air ministry into a dedicated tank destroyer as the Luftwaffe attempted to strike back at ever-increasing numbers of Soviet tanks, specifically the superlative and ubiquitous T-34 medium tank. The Ju 87G variant was duly rushed into service, fitted with two underwing pods containing 37mm BK cannon. Despite the wealth of experience possessed by some of the Luftwaffe's ground-attack and dive-bomber aces, knocking out T-34s from the air proved to be a demanding and difficult process thanks to effective evasive tactics employed by tank crews. Leading Luftwaffe historian Robert Forsyth details how the Stukageschwader waged war against the Red Army's most effective weapon, focusing on key actions at many crucial points on the central and southern sectors of the Eastern Front, including during the battle for Kursk.