Few weapons developed a more deadly reputation than the German '88' in
the role of anti-tank gun, its long reach and lethal hitting power
making it a significant problem for every type of British and later
American armour. Despite its individual potency, it was almost always
utilized as part of a comprehensive system of defences that relied on a
mix of weapons carefully deployed in anticipation of the enemy's likely
avenue and method of attack. Used in this way, the 88 became a
particularly deadly part of the Afrika Korps' attempts to shatter
British armoured power in the Western Desert.
Initially extremely successful over the course of 1941 and 1942 in
Operations Battleaxe and Crusader, the Allies' tactics and vehicles
(such as the American-made M3 and the Crusader III) eventually evolved
to deal with the 88's awesome power. This detailed new book tells the
story of that evolution and provides an in-depth treatment of this key
weapon of World War II.