With this volume, Nuts & Bolts continues their look at the Marder III. Volume 15 covered the Russian gun armed version, the SdKfz. 139. The same team of authors now looks at the PaK 40 armed versions.

In part one of their series; they have concentrated on the Ausfuhrung M version first, instead of the Ausfuhrung H since the recent Tamiya kit is of the M variant. Italeri still has the Ausfuhrung H kit available but I digress...

Here we have a 128 page softcover book that goes far into detail on the version listed. So much so, it is the recommended reference listed on ABER's photo-etched detail set instructions! One can see why when you look at the history tables, plans, color profiles, and available kitlist.

Pages 2-16 cover the development of the vehicle, the gun itself, a technical description of the Ausf. H version, a technical description of the Ausf. M version, radio equipment, camouflage and markings, production of both variants, allocation to anti-tank units, and five tables.

These tables cover:

1. Technical Data 7.5 cm Pak 40
2. Variants of the Pak 40
3. Technical Data of the Marder III Ausf. H & M
4. Monthly Production and Allocation to Panzerjager Units
5. Units which Received the Marder III Ausf. H
6. Allocation of Marder III Ausf. H & M to Units from May 1943 to April 1945

From page 17 until page 33, the book covers the organization of the self-propelled anti-tank units in theory and practice, some examples of self-propelled anti-tank units equipped with the Marder III, the Marder III in service in 1945, a modeling section, acknowledgements, and two tables listing available Marder III with units on December 30th, 1944 as well as March 15th, 1945.

Sixty three period photos with detailed captions fill pages 33-58. The photos are large, two or three to a page, and most are sharp enough to make out particular details. My favorites are the series of the captured example used by the British in Italy. There is also a photo that purports to show a zimmerit coated example but it seems like a paint job to me. Adding the ten smaller period photos in the previous sections, the tally so far is 73 period photos.

The inside covers are dedicated to color photos of a Tamiya kit built by David Parker. Here we find nine color photos included on which is repeated in black in white in the modeling section.

Half a dozen color profiles, by David Parker, follow on pages 59-61. The caption of one shows the same vehicle purported to be covered in zimmerit as having a tight brush paint job. I agree with this assertion. However, I was let down that the captured British example does not show the unique details of the vehicle other than the markings.

Scale plans, perspective drawings (all by John L. Rue), and a bibliography are on the four pages that follow. Sadly, John made the same mistake that Hilary L. Doyle did a few years ago. On the early version of the mid engined chassis, the side vents are not straight from front to back but have a slight inward kink where the plates join at the sides. See the Flakpanzer 38 photos on this site for clarity. Doyle's plans have been corrected but not these. For the later version with welded plates, the lines are straight.

The rest of the book has 187 photos of four different museum examples including the early version at Trieste's museum. Excellent detail photos with informative captions to insure that all can be replicated on one's model.

The front cover, and title page, both have an interesting photo taken in Italy which appears in color on the cover.

This is the best reference available on the subject and I found it to be informative, detailed enough to be a must buy even with the perceived high price. One will definitely get their money's worth!

This volume is highly recommended. My thanks to my friend Detlev Terlisten and the Nuts & Bolts team for helping me acquire this volume.

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