Book excerpt: The Pzkpfw III tank was the mainstay of the Panzer divisions during the Blitzkrieg era and made up the bulk of the armored force sent to North Africa. Although less heavily armored than many of its opponents it was sturdy and reliable and its main armament was the equal of any enemy weapon it was called upon to face. Operating in one of the most inhospitable environments on earth the Pzkpfw III was at the forefront of the dramatic advances of 1941 and the defensive efforts of the following year, all undertaken in the incredible vastness of the Libyan desert. This volume of the TankCraft series concludes the story of the tank’s North African service, examining the models that took part in the campaign beginning with the retreat from El Alamein and ending with the surrender of the last Axis forces in Tunisia in May 1943. Using archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the Pzkpfw III and the units that operated this deservedly famous armored vehicle during the final battles in North Africa. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.