World War Two Military Vehicles - Transport And Halftracks

There are military vehicles designed to thunder heroically into battle, bristling with enormous guns and attracting the attention of every enemy soldier within several miles. Then there are the less glamorous machines responsible for delivering the fuel, ammunition, food and equipment needed to keep the whole enterprise functioning. Without these hardworking mechanical servants, even the most formidable army would eventually find itself stranded in a field, wondering where its sandwiches had gone.

In World War Two Military Vehicles – Transport and Halftracks (2007), respected military vehicle historian Pat Ware explores the extraordinary assortment of wheeled and half-tracked machines that kept the fighting forces of the Second World War moving. Published by Ian Allan, this illustrated volume celebrates the engineering, development and operational importance of vehicles that rarely received the cinematic attention enjoyed by tanks and fighter aircraft, despite being absolutely essential to the war effort.

The Second World War required armies to move vast quantities of men, equipment and supplies across continents, deserts, mountains and landscapes that were frequently unsuitable for anything more sophisticated than a determined mule. The solution was an extraordinary variety of trucks, personnel carriers, utility vehicles and specialised machines designed to survive conditions that would reduce the average civilian motor car to a collection of expensive spare parts.

Among the most fascinating were the halftracks, ingenious mechanical hybrids combining conventional front wheels with tracked rear propulsion. These extraordinary contraptions offered improved mobility over difficult ground while retaining some of the handling characteristics of wheeled vehicles. To the casual observer, they resembled trucks that had suffered a disagreement with a tank and emerged from the encounter wearing part of its undercarriage.

Ware examines these distinctive vehicles alongside the wider range of military transport, exploring their practical roles and the engineering ingenuity involved in keeping enormous armies supplied. From dependable general-service trucks to specialised personnel carriers, every machine contributed to the complicated business of moving a modern fighting force.

Naturally, military transport was not particularly concerned with luxury. Drivers were expected to endure uncomfortable seating, indifferent weather protection, appalling roads and mechanical equipment that frequently required roadside attention. Complaints about insufficient legroom were unlikely to receive sympathetic consideration from commanding officers.

The book highlights an essential truth of military history: spectacular victories depend upon remarkably unglamorous logistical achievements. A tank may capture the headlines, but somebody still has to deliver its fuel, replacement parts and ammunition, preferably before the enemy notices that the entire operation has ground to a halt.

Condition: As New. This copy is in exceptional condition, presenting as new despite its 2007 publication date. Unlike a surviving wartime halftrack, it requires no replacement tracks, specialist engine overhaul or a substantial workshop filled with increasingly unobtainable mechanical components.

Published by Ian Allan in 2007. ISBN: 9780711031937.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where we admire the magnificent machinery that kept the world’s armies moving, particularly when its history can be enjoyed without acquiring a heavy goods vehicle licence or explaining an armoured halftrack parked outside the house.

An excellent addition to any collection of Second World War history, military vehicle literature or historic transport engineering. Particularly recommended for enthusiasts who appreciate that winning a war requires more than impressive weapons and courageous soldiers: it also requires an extraordinary number of lorries, hardworking drivers and somebody sufficiently organised to ensure that everyone receives their petrol.

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