Product Description

The most powerfully gunned tank fielded by the Allies during World War II was the Sherman Firefly. An ordinary American-built Sherman modified by the British, the Firefly had the firepower that could finally match the awesome German tanks that had dominated Europe. David Fletcher examines the controversy that dogged the Firefly and the psychological boost the tank provided to Allied forces. Exploring its successes and failures on the battlefield and providing a realistic assessment of the tank's worth, this is essential reading for anyone wanting to know the facts about a tank variant that quickly developed its own mythology.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #682231 in Books
• Brand: Osprey Publishing Limited
• Published on: 2008-02-19
• Released on: 2008-02-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, .0 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

Review
"The Firefly was arguably the best WW2 tank of the Western allies to be produced in quantity, as far as anti-tank performance was concerned... All [of its production history] is described here and so is the Firefly's combat use, as well as interesting sidelights such as the use of Fireflies for concrete-busting attack on bunkers and Firefly production for the US Army. Very highly recommended." -John Prigent, Internet Modeler (March 2008)

"This book is without a doubt an Osprey book. Like others in Osprey's catalog, detailed cutaway illustration and a rich collection of photographs make this book a treasure for armor enthusiasts, modelers, and anyone who is interested in the ground war in Europe... David Fletcher's Sherman Firefly is a great addition as a reference book in the World War II Database library. Like tanks? Definitely check it out." -C. Peter Chen, World War II Database (March 16, 2008)

"Fletcher’s writing style is perhaps unusual...but his content is outstanding. He offers a thorough look at the history of the Firefly. As with all Osprey books, this one is profusely illistrated with period photographs...and lavish full-color...drawings and sketches... All in all, I recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII British or American tanks." -Scott Mingus, Charge! (February 21, 2008)

"Overall, an excellent reference into this important British tank and one that you should get for your library." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (February 2008)

About the Author
David Fletcher was born in 1942. He has written a number of books and articles on military subjects and is currently the historian at the Tank Museum, Bovington, UK. He has spent over 40 years studying the development of British armored vehicles during the two World Wars. The author lives in Dorset, UK..

Customer Reviews

Good on development info; lacking on combat info
I purchased this book right away when it became available, a couple of months after buying Stephen Hart's book "Sherman Firefly vs. Tiger" (Normandy 1944).

The chapters are as follows:

Introduction
The 17-Pounder
Developments at Lulworth
Designing the Firefly
The Conversion Programme
Ammunition
Concrete Busters
The Firefly in Action
The American Angle
Supply and Demand
What's in a Name?
Index

The strengths of this book by David Fletcher are the detailed information on the development, design, and conversion of the Sherman Firefly. If you like detailed specifications on the Firefly, Fletcher does a good job of providing this info. All the different variants of the Firefly are briefly described. Tony Bryan does an excellent job in his colored illustrations.

However, the main deficiency in this book is the sparse info provided about the combat performance of the Firely in the European theatre. Fletcher does not even mention the pivotal battle in St. - Aignan (Aug. 8, 1944) where the British Fireflies destroy the Tiger tank and the legendary career of notable Tiger tank ace Michael Wittman. I can't believe the author would make no mention of some of these pivotal battles.

Therefore, I liked Stephen Hart's book much more. It provides the essential development and design info on the Firefly but it describes the combat performance in much more satisfying detail. Hart describes briefly each pivotal battle against the Germans, and gives the reader a detailed synopsis of how the tankers on each side operated in battle. Hart even describes the notable tank aces on both the Axis and Allied sides.

If I were to pick one "Sherman Firefly" book, I would pick Hart's book instead of this one. Hart's book has the added bonus in providing the design, development, and combat info on the legendary Tiger Tank. It's like getting two books for the price of one. Hart's book contains 79 pages of script while this book only contains 48 pages.

If you buy this book, consider purchasing the Hart book as well, to augment the section on the combat performance.

Good broad overview of the Firefly's development
Osprey Publishing has sent me a copy of one of their latest releases, this one on the Sherman Firefly tank. The British army took delivery on hundreds of U.S.-built Sherman tanks and outfitted them with a massive 17-pound gun. This innovation finally allowed British forces to match up with the imposing german firepower that had dominated the Western European Theater of Operations for so long. Veteran author David Fletcher, the historian at the Tank Museum in Bovington, UK, had penned an interesting and detailed account of the history of this conversion, exploring the people and methodology behind the development of the Firefly.


Fletcher's writing style is perhaps unusual and a bit too folksy for my American taste, but his content is outstanding. He offers a thorough look at the history of the Firefly. As with all Osprey books, this one is profusely illistrated with period photographs (from the collection of the museum the author works for) and lavish full-color (colour for my British friends!) drawings and sketches.

Number 141 of the New Vanguard collection, this newly released book is certainly an authoritative look at this powerful weapon of war. At only 48 pages, it is a short and easy read, but is chock full of interesting information of value to the wargamer, WWII buff, or tank enthusiast. Fletcher examines the successes (and failures) of this tank destroyer, which was in high demand and short supply. They were allocated among various units, usually no more than 1 or 2 per unit.