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Fans of modern German Armour can only look with their eyes filled with tears to the broad selection of books available about Wehrmacht panzers or modern allied equipment - this is no news. But it is a rela pitty that is true for one of the most famous modern tanks - the Leopard 1 - as well. What could we use as reference material so far ? Now, you probably all now the Spielberger series. Some might remember the old Waffen-Arsenal/squadron signal in action dealing with the Leopard 1, real hardcore fans might also know a book from 1977 "Kampfpanzer Leopard" which was published by "Wehr und Wissen". Both books ended with the A3 version of the Leopard, versions like the Dachs (Badger) or the enhanced Bergeleopard (ARV) 2A2 didn't even exist by then. No wonder at all the Spielberger book was THE reference book for years. This has finally come to an end and I can confidentaly say that there is a new reference dealing with this topic!

British publisher Barbarossa Books started delivery of ist "Leopard 1 Trilogy" these days. The Leopard 1 Trilogy is written by author Michael Shackleton who was assisted by Frank Lobitz as technical director. After reading the very first chapters, one sees clearly this is not a typical boring special topic book like others, these three books have far more to offer.
Next to a complete description of the Leopard tank's development and all it's variants, we also find a detail and scale drawings and function principles. The photos are a good mixture of action photos and - specially to the modeller's needs - a large variety of in detail images. The credits for the photos and drawings read like a who-is-who of european modelling: Dirk Degenhardt (1/35 scale views, well known from the Elite kits) and Jan-Willem DeBoer of the Dutch Twenot (detailphotos) will be found as well as Ulf Koeppen (www.daseisenschwein.de - the homepage of former PzBtl. 74) and Peter Blume (known from several Fahrzeug Profile publications) who provided several action photos. Quality is guaranteed!

The three books aim at both the modeller as well as fans of military technology, author Michael Shackleton made a good balance preventing the book from drifting too far to either side, both groups will be totally satisfied. Some purist might miss a detail or two, like the diameter of the screws holding the tracks leading teeth... Personally I also like the basic layout of the books. The chapters are interupted by the so called "Leopard Tales" - short (true) stories and anekdotes all around the Leopard, sometimes interesting, sometimes humorous - but never boring!

Those thinking a Leopard book will only be interesting for fans of the German Army are equally wrong as those thinking the Leopard family is confined to Leopard 1 to 1 A5, Biber (AVLB), ARV and Dachs (badger) - the books will show!

Leopard 1 Trilogy - Volume 1: Prototype to production (ISBN 0-9538777-5-2)

Voume 1 contains the complete development history of the Leopard 1 rank ranging from the very first designs to the 1A6. Next to action photos "in details" are shown of: Series II prototype, Leopard 0-series, Leopadr 1, Leopard 1A3, Leopard 1A4, Leopard 1A1A2 and Leopard 1A6. 1/35th scale drwaings are provided for: Leopard 1. and 3. Batch, 1!, 1A2, 1A3,1A4, 1A5 and 1A1A1.
Moreover the volume offers a desprition of the Leopard's use within the German Bundeswehr, technical data, a complete list of chassis numbers, articles on the Leopard's technical details and - modellers attention! - a almost complete list and review of Leopard modelkits ranging from 1/300 to 1/16!


Leopard 1 Trilogy - Volume 2: Special variants (ISBN 0-9538777-6-0)

Volume 2 is dedicated to the special variants of the Leopard family. This includes the Begrepanzer 2 (Taurus), Pionierpanzer 1 and 2 (Dachs/Badger), thebridgelayers Biber (Beaver) and Leguan, the complete anti aircraft family around the Gepard, driving school version, Artillery oberservation tank, the BARV variants Hippo and Bulldog as well as a variety of mine clearing versions like the Minebreaker depicted below.
Close-up photos are provided for: Bergepanzer 2, Pionierpanzer 1 and 2, Gepard A1/A2, Biber, Leguan, Driving school tank, oberservation tank, Leopard 1 AEV, Leopard 1 AMCV, Hippo, Bulldog, Minebreaker and the Bofors Demining machines 1 and 2.
1/35th scale drawings can be found for: Bergepanzer 2, Pionierpanzer 1 and 2, Gepard, Biber, Driving school tank, Leopard 1 AEV, Leopard 1 AMCV and Hippo.
The volumes ends with the technical data and a listing of the production numbers for the special variants.


Leopard 1 Trilogy - Volume 3: Foreign users (ISBN 0-9538777-7-9)

In the third volume our readers from Belgium and the Netherlands as well as from Canada and Australia will fully come to their costs. Michael Shackleton introduces all foreign users of the Leopard 1 family including the variants they operate: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and Romania and Great Britain. On this occasion the author also brings to an end rumours of libyan Leopards and takes a look at possible future Leopard users.
Like the other books, also volume three contains several nice close-up series: the Australian Dozer device, Leopard 1A5(BE), Leopard C1A1 and C2, the Canadian mineroller, Leopard 1A5DK and 1A5DK-1 including the mine plough, Leopard 1-V and Cheetah.
The volume ends with a complete listing of all Leopard 1 and derivatives used worldwide and - as in very volume - a table of glossary terms and abbreviations.

A few additional informations on the books: each volume consists of some 180 pages which have pictures throughout - mostly colour images of high quality. The Trilogy can be ordered as single books or as a complete set, which is delivered in a stable and attractive black box. The price for the complete "Leopard 1 Trilogy" is 90 british pounds, thus approx. 128 Euros.
The Trilogy can be ordered directly at Barbarossa Books (www.barbarossabooks.co.uk), credit card and cash are accepted as payment. The ISBN number of the complete set is: 0-9838777-8-7.

As a final conclusion I can say that these books set the new reference when it comes to Leopard 1 literature and they should not miss in any well sorted book collection of Bundswehr or Leopard fans, no matter whether they are interested in the model or in the real thing!

Special thanks go to Mr. Russel Hadler von Barbarossa Books for the review samples!

Barbarossa Books
Zhukov House
14 Maldon Road
Tiptree
Essex CO5 0LL
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0) 1621 810810 / Fax +44 (0) 1621 810888

E-mail to sales@barbarossabooks.co.uk

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