Military vehicles: books - history, types and construction

The World Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles

An illustrated A-Z catalogue of more than 185 vehicles, including famous makes such as Austin, Land Rover and Scammell from the UK; Willys, Dodge, and GMC from the USA; GAZ and ZiL from the Soviet Union; and manufacturers from around the world, including NEKAF, Tatra, Rába, Timoney, Beijing Jeep, Mitsubishi and DAF.

This reference book provides an authoritative and well-illustrated 100-year overview of the fascinating history of the cargo/troop-carrying trucks, wreckers, tankers, ambulances, communications vehicles and other specialized types that provide technical support to the front-line troops.

The author begins by describing the history of the wheeled military vehicle. Key issues are covered in detail, with topics such as the emergence of standardized designs, missile transporters and amphibious vehicles, as well as the impact and aftermath of the two world wars.
A country-by-country A-Z directory then covers over 185 specific vehicles in detail. The origins and development of each vehicle are clearly described, and a specification panel details the country of origin, type, manufacturer, production dates, powerplant, transmission, suspension, brakes, electrical system, dimensions, weight and performance of each vehicle.

Vehicle Art of World War Two

The 'nose art' that decorated WW2 aircraft has received considerable attention but the images and slogans that decorated land vehicles has been less widely appreciated.
This visually stunning book displays many fine examples (original or faithfully recreated) of the art that adorned the military vehicles of both Allied and Axis forces.
Both official unit markings, such as divisional badges and unit emblems, as well as decidedly less official renderings of pin-up girls and cartoon characters are included.

John Norris's concise but well researched text and extended captions set the artwork in context and explain the development of vehicle art through the course of the war and in the various armies.
The result is a visual treat for the casual reader and a valuable reference for reenactors, vehicle restorers, wargamers and modellers.

Technicals - Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great Toyota War to modern Special Forces (Osprey)

Over the last 30 years, the 'technical' or armed pick-up truck has become arguably the most ubiquitous military land vehicle of modern warfare. Harking back to the armed Jeeps and Chevrolet trucks of the SAS and Long Range Desert Group in North Africa in World War II, the world's first insurgent technicals were those of the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army in Algeria in the late 1970s, followed by the Chadian use of technical in the so-called Toyota War against Libya.
Since then, technicals have seen use in Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, as well as being used by Western and Russian Special Forces.

Fully illustrated with commissioned artwork and providing rigorous analysis, this is the first history of how this deceptively simple fighting vehicle has been used and developed in conflicts worldwide.

Riot Control Vehicles 1945-Present (Osprey)

Fully illustrated with a mixture of dramatic archive photos and manufacturers' images, this volume covers the little-known history of riot control vehicles. It explores the world of these vehicles from 1945 through to the present day - from adapted military armoured cars such as the Humber Pig (UK) and BRDM (Soviet Union) to the fully computerized systems of the Russian Lavina-Uragan and Canadian INKAS Armored Riot Control Vehicle - showing how their development and deployment has blurred the lines between civilian actions and military operations.
It charts how the vehicles have evolved in terms of technology and layout, and also details how the associated weapon systems have been refined over time, from water cannon and tear gas launchers to subsonic sound waves and microwave energy. The operational history of the vehicles is explained in the dramatic context of major incidents across the world, from the streets of Northern Ireland and Eastern Europe to the favelas of Brazil and the battlegrounds of Iraq.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Operational History - Conclusion and Analysis - Index.