More commonly known to modellers as the ‘Fries Crane‘ this impressive piece of equipment was an essential part of maintenance equipment for the German heavy panzer units who had to remove the turrets of Tigers, Panthers and Elephants. This stunning new book offers a definitive study of the crane from its development to its usage, beautifully presented and generously illustrated. There a complete illustrated guide reproduced from a British intelligence report on how to erect your Strabokran (handy for those with one in the lock up). There then follows a section devoted to the cranes operated by Tiger units with plenty of unseen pics and one or two that are familiar. There is a great sequence which shows the turret being removed from a Tiger 1 with mechanics sitting on the barrel to counterbalance it as it is lifted clear. Throughout the book there are excellent scale line drawings provided and here there are plans of the Tiger turret lifting couplings. Another sequence shows a different turret being refitted and a gun barrel being replaced. The next section looks at the work of the cranes with the Elephant and again there are modelling ideas on almost every page with the entire superstructure removed from the hull. Panther comes next and here there are drawings for the special hoist jig to fit the Panther turret roof as well as some great pictures of various vehicles undergoing repair with the crane. The Strabokran was also used to load the V2 rocket and there is a sequence showing a rocket being loaded onto a trailer and another showing a crane being used to install Naval guns into emplacements on the Atlantic Wall. There is another chapter which looks at improvised lifting solutions employed when the Stabokran was not available and another which looks at surviving examples. The next chapter looks at the make up and vehicles used by these maintenance units before moving on to a detailed examination of the crane itself. The detailed walkaround section mixes detailed pictures with more of those excellent 1 :35th scale drawings. The format of the book allows complete views of the assembled crane to be reproduced on a page and this extremely detailed look at the crane provides all the required modelling reference and more.

A superb study which German armour fans will regard as essential. French kit manufacturer DES used to make a model of this crane - perhaps now would be a good time to put it back into production as this book provides so much modelling inspiration. Highly recommended.

Reproduced by kind permission David Parker of AFV Modeller