Polish Vickers Part 2
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Polish Tracks & Wheels 3
Author: Adam Jonca
Publisher: Stratus Publications
ISBN: 978-83-61421-50-4
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 88
What the Stratus Polish Wings series has done for Polish aviation, their Polish Tracks & Wheels aims to do for Polish armor vehicles. This volume completes their coverage on the Vickers tank, which was extensively modified throughout its career. This includes operating as an artillery tractor and amphibious tank, among other more traditional roles.
This book picks up where the previous volume left off, with the Vickers Medium Tank Mark D from the late 1920s. This was a one-off design that actually did not go to Poland, as interest had shifted to the Vickers Six-Ton tank, which is the next subject in the book. From that vehicle the book jumps to the Vickers-Carden-Loyd Mk VI, Vickers 4 Ton Artillery Tractor, Vickers Light Tank 4 Ton, Vickers Light Amphibious Tank, 7TP Twin Turret, 7TP Single Turret, Light Tank V/7TP, and the reinforced 7TP.
It was with the 7TP that Poland entered the Second World War, and the remainder of the book documents the operational history of the 7TP in Polish and foreign service. The battle for Poland was a quick one, though, and the operational history in Polish service was therefore short. The book presents this history through the organization of the units, but mainly through extensive photographic coverage, which is quite nice to see. Colors and markings are further documented in the form of color illustrations and detailed marking tables.
This is a nice conclusion to the Polish Vickers series, and provides an interesting subject for the modeler and historian alike. My thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for the review copy.