Welcome to Cold War Gamer, a blog I am using to record my Cold War wargaming projects. These range from fictitious Cold War hot projects to historical conflicts that took place around the globe throughout the Cold War era, all modelled and gamed in 20mm. The blog includes links to various resources useful to the Cold War Gamer.

My current projects include: Central Front; British & Soviet. South African Border War; Angolans and South Africans. Soviet Afghan War; Soviets and Afghans

Friday 1 February 2013

Review - Books, Armies of NATOS Central Front





The Armies of NATO'S central Front was written in 1985 and is probably the definative work of this nature on NATO'S armies covering a wealth of detail particularly on organisation that is other wise rather more difficult to come by than data on the Warsaw pact and the Soviet Union.  As such this volume is in high demand and if you can pick up a copy for less than £100 you are doing well.   

As well as covering the strategic context and how NATO would approach the defence of Western Europe it majors on the organisation equipment and tactics of the member Nations with Chapters on:

  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • France
  • Federal Republic of Germany
  • Great Britain
  • Luxemberg - a very short chapter
  • The Netherlands
  • United States of America
  • Danish Jutland Division
The armies of Southern and Northern Europe sit outside the scope of the title.  Each National section broadly covers the Background, Including Strategy and training before looking at Unit organisation and Order Of Battle, How that Nation will fight its battles, Weapons and Equipment, current force deployment and the National Air Force. The level of detail and the breadth of coverage really make it one of the must have titles for anyone interested in the period in general or NATO specifically.  The only problem is availability of the title and hence cost, a superb reference book for the central front enthusiast.






Armies of NATO's Central Front @ Amazon

Other Book Reviews:

A History of Soviet Airborne Forces 
Soviet Tactical Aviation
Red Thrust, Central Front
The Soviet Afghan War, How a Super Power Fought and Lost
Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army
Soviet Air Land Battle Tactics
The Military Balance
Encyclopaedia of the Modern British Army
The Soviet Conduct of Tactical Manoeuvre
First Clash
The Third World War
The British Army in Germany

The Cold War Bookstore contains links to over 60 Cold War titles covered in my book list







4 comments:

  1. This is a great reference source as you might expect from a product of the "Jane's" stable. There are a nice selection of photographs and an excellent selection of tables in the opening chapter sumarising the accuracy, armour penetration and kill probability of NATO direct fire weapons, NATO vehicle armour levels also accuracy and lethality areas of indirect fire weapons. I didn't realise this title was going for £100 though. I will have to consider adding mine to the house contents insurance. Aye, Rusty.

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    Replies
    1. i'd consider that there are 3 on amazon today £200, £400 and £700, price does shift around a lot depending on how many available

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  2. It remains to see, envy, and dispense Soviet publications such as "Army of capitalist countries" and sets of "Foreign Military Review"

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  3. I just placed an order for $150US. Of course, soon after, a copy popped up for $120US!

    Looking forward to getting my copy. I really enjoy "Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army". Thanks for the review. Would've never known about these books if not for this blog!

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