Jane's Tanks Recognition Guide

Jane's is a recognition guide, and a fine one at that. It should be noted, however, that as a recognition guide, it is not a book about tanks and other fighting vehicles, so don't expect much text covering armored vehicle tactics, operations, capabilities, weapon systems, etc. As a recognition guide, this book does provide sillouettes, line drawings, multiple color photographs, lists of key recognition figures and basic vehicle statistics in order to aid the reader in recognizing various modern armored fighting vehicles. Aslo included are lists of nations who currently use each model. Surprisingly, not included in the latest version of the book are a handful of vehicles currently seeing extensive combat action and receiving a good deal of media coverage. These vehicles include the U.S. Army's Stryker wheeled APC (based on the Mowag Piranha and LAV-25), the Israeli Achzarit tracked "heavy" APC (based on the hull of the T-54 & T-55 MBT's), Puma tracked Engineer carrier, and low-instensity conflict tracked carriers Nakpadon and Nakpachon (all based on the chasis of the Centurion MBT). All of the above are derivatives of pre-existing models which are covered by the book but, as in the case of the Israeli APC's, the modifications are so extensive as to make the resulting vehicles almost completely new in terms of components, performance, AND appearance. You've probably seen all of these vehicles quite recently on the national news but you will not be able to find them in Jane's. The omission of these almost completely new vehicles is therefore quite surprising. Furthermore,the book does include other derivitive vehicles (many Chinese and eastern European vehicle entries are little more than locally manufactured variants of Soviet/Russian designed vehicles) so the above mentioned omission are rather difficult to justify. Therefore, I've given this edition four stars instead of five. Otherwise, it is a fine reference. Aside from the omissions discussed above at length, the current edition of Janes Tank Recognition Guide is chock full of information and color photos and is a must-have reference for any "tankspotter" or military gearhead.

Chris Foss's Book is simply dazzling by the good quality of the photos,drawings and the ton of information he offers. Displaying an enviable knowledge and comprehension of these weapons platforms, , he helps the Neophyte, the Model maker , as well as Armed Forces Researchers and Historians.After reading the passage on each vehicle, especially the finely crafted "key recognition features" Blue inset, we feel we know the vehicle inside out, and can sometimes trace the project back to its inception.Dare look at these toy -looking weapons platforms and understand their pacifying or terrifying power. For anyone who wants to know how troops and massive firepower can be mobilized and moved very fast, and a decisive factor in the new types of conflicts that may arise in the Twenty First Century.Francois BARDOL

The Jane's Recognition Guides used to be complete. But this latest version of the Tank guide misses the mark. For one thing, there's no mention of the Russian "Black Eagle," which should be included even if it's only a one-on prototype; with a turret unlike any other USSR or Russian MBT, it might show the direction the Russians are thinking. But a much more glaring ommission: there's no mention at all of the US Army's multi-purpose Stryker 8-wheel combat vehicle, which is seeing a lot of hot action in Iraq and (perhaps) Afghanistan this very minute. There was a 30-minute TV show on it just the other night on Military Channel. Army troops are being quoted praising the Stryker. Again, the politically cancelled Crusader armored heavy self-propelled gun should at least be mentioned, and a a drawing included -- IF Foss and Jane's/Smithsonian want to be complete. Other countries' on-line or upcoming AFVs also are missing. I hope the 5th edition (what -- three-to-five years off?) is more complete.

This book is simply amazing! It includes everything! With two exceptions: the japanese LAV 4X4 and Type 96 8x8 APC. Other than that it is complete. I just wish that mr. Watts had made the Warship Guide like this one!