Synopsis: |
The mobilisation of troops and equipment has always been crucial to the winning of any war. As the days of horse-drawn artillery and cavalry charges became a thing of the past, so the development of military vehicles became central to any army. This book charts the development of farm vehicles into weapons of war, in the form of tanks during the First World War. From civilian motor vehicles into fast-moving, mobile weapons units. Such vehicles changes the way we fight wars and enabled the rapid deployment of men and weapons through changing terrain. Each section of this book looks at a different type of vehicle, including the Willy's Jeep, Honey Tank, International Halftrack, Dodge Weapons Carrier, Austin Champ, DUKW, Bren Gun Carrier, Thornycroft Big Ben and Land Rover, as well as many more. Chris McNab examines how and why they were invented, how they developed during their use in action, their strengths and weaknesses and what it was like to be in the driving sea of these 'monsters of the battlefield'.Packed with stats and information boxes, this is an ideal reference for any modeller or war-gamer, as well as being a highly readable guide to these much-loved classic vehicles for any enthusiast. |