British Light Tanks 1927–45 Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | January 2015 | Title | British Light Tanks 1927–45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | David Fletcher | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2014 | ISBN | 9781782003779 |
| Format | 48 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $17.95 |
Review
British light tanks – especially Light Tank Mk VIs – proved fixtures in early World War II fighting.
France. North Africa. Greece. Crete. Even the Netherlands East Indies.
Now they're the subject of British Light Tanks 1927–45: Marks I–VI – a ripping little read in Osprey's perennial "New Vanguard" series.
With their machine-gun armament and thin armor, British light tanks were often considered "glorified armored cars" – fit only for deployment, author David Fletcher, contends "against forces that were not armed with tanks or vehicles of any sort at all". Early actions, in fact, completely confirmed their unsuitability for anti-armor roles.
Yet some survived the conflict. And post-war, the Royal Egyptian Army used quantities of Light Tank Mk VIs during the Israeli war of independence. This compact compendium spans the whole story.
My biggest criticism? At only 48 pages, this remains a rather slender study. Author Fletcher admits as such: "There are enough stories here to fill a fair-sized book, although for the present we are limited to one slim volume."
Seeking additional references? Seven sources comprise the author's selected bibliography. But as many as five others appear in main text!
But – hey – I carp. Grab this entertaining effort. Then hope that David Fletcher eventually pens that "fair-sized book" on British Marks I–VI Light Tanks!
Highly recommended!
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!