From the bloody battle for Normandy to the Nazi heartland, from war's end to the killing fields of Korea, the men of the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment fight battle after battle against terrible odds. Whether outnumbered or outgunned, the Tankies soldier on--as their motto would have it, ""From Mud, Through Blood, to the Green Fields Beyond.""
After D-Day the largely untried Allied armies meet their seasoned German counterparts on the killing grounds of Bocage country. As Panzers and SS units turn the French hedgerows into a slaughterhouse, a lone British tank crew struggles to rejoin their squadron. Their only hope lies in their commander, Corporal Stiles--but does even this wily old trooper stand a chance against the infamous Tiger?
Newly promoted but just as angry, Sergeant Stiles enters the battle for Germany in command of a Sherman Firefly--capable of taking out any tank thus far encountered. Unfortunately, the enemy have a new tank of their own, the mighty ""King Tiger,"" with twice the firepower of the original. As Stiles and his men join the Allied advance into the Nazi homeland, they find worse horrors than Tigers lurking in the German twilight.
Six years later, as massed Chinese armies descend on UN forces defending South Korea, a British infantry brigade digs in amidst the hills of the Imjin River sector. With them are the Centurion tanks of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, including WWII veteran Sergeant Stiles. But Stiles is a man haunted by the horrors of his past, and when the Communist offensive smashes into the tiny British force, he must battle his own demons along with the enemy's might.
Industry Reviews
Gritty, realistic stories about British Armored forces in World War II (Normandy and Germany) and in Korea. Believable and well-developed characters that we can identify with and root for. And incredible portraits of the steel giants that these men rode into battle: The Churchill, the Sherman Firefly, and the best tank of the post-war period, the Centurion, all beautifully rendered by Carlos and Hector Ezquerra." -Wayne Vansant, author of Katusha: Girl Soldier of the Patriotic War and All Quiet on the Western Front: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
"Being asked to write an endorsement for a Garth Ennis book illustrated by the late, great Carlos Ezquerra was my own personal 'We're not worthy!' moment. His The Tankies series in particular holds a warm place in my heart, chock-full of the gritty humour that's a trademark of his work. I cannot recommend this book enough." -Paul Charlton, "The Mighty Jingles" on YouTube
"The Tankies is an entertaining yarn which brings to life the perceptions of Allied tank crews as they fought their way across Europe, and tips the hat to our dismounted colleagues alongside whom tankies must fight to be successful" -Nicholas Moran, AKA "The Chieftain
