The road gantry cranes were an indispensable tool for maintaining the new heavy tanks Tiger, Panther, and tank hunter Elefant near to the front line. An exceptional use for the gantry crane was from 1944 onward with the artillery battery z.V. – for loading and unloading the A4 (V2) rockets from rail transporters onto the “Vidalwagen” or “Meillerwagen” launching trailers.

For the first time this fascinating gantry crane’s development history is documented, with patent applications, as well as its use in action with the Panzer-Werkstattkompanien, engineering units and artillery battery z.V., using original documents and a lot of pictures.

Seen for the first time is a complete series showing the removal and replacement of a Panzer turret and other usage. A comparison of 15t / 16t Strabokran variants describes the differences of both gantry crane types by simply identifying their characteristics. Detail photographs and measurement of two 16t gantry cranes, taken in Cosford and Munich, serve as reference for an extensive representation of an accurate set of drawings of 15t and 16t Strabokrans and further variants in 1/35 scale for modellers.



Please note: This title has not yet been published - it is currently expected to be published in April 2011. All details are provisional, including the precise title, the expected date and, most importantly, the price. If you wish to place an order, it will be recorded and the title will be supplied when it becomes available to us. If you are paying by debit or credit card, then no charge will be raised until the title is available for dispatch. If there is a significant increase in the price (30 % and more), you will be asked to confirm or cancel your order.

Throughout illustrated with photographs and drawings.
Author/s: Volker Ruff
Illustrator:
Publisher: Volker Ruff
Pages: 256
Language: Completely bilingual, English/German
Edition: 1
Year of publication: 2011
Dimensions: 30 x 24.5 cm
Binding: Hardback

Weight: 1.80 kg