Airborne Armour: Tetrarch, Locust, Hamilcar And The 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment 1938-50 [Hardcover]

Keith Flint (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 187462237X | ISBN-13: 978-1874622376 | Publication Date: October 2, 2004

Despite all the works on airborne forces published since 1945, the full story of Britain's 'airborne armour' has remained untold. This book is intended to correct that omission. The story has two main strands - the project to fly tanks onto the battlefield to support airborne forces, and the history of the unit which operated those tanks and supported 6th Airborne Division in the ground role - the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. The book is the result of considerable original research and contact with surviving members of 6th AARR. It contains the full development background of both airborne tanks, the British Tetrarch and American Locust, and also that of the Hamilcar glider. It examines rival or complimentary projects, in particular the German Me 321 Gigant glider, and analyses the extent to which the British airborne armour project was a success. The history of 6th AARR is traced back to the little known Special Service Squadrons of the RAC which were pioneers of armoured amphibious assault, and who saw action in the invasion of Madagascar in 1942. One of these squadrons became the Airborne Light Tank Squadron, which grew into the Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance

Product Details

• Hardcover: 223 pages
• Publisher: Helion & Co Ltd (October 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 187462237X
• ISBN-13: 978-1874622376
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,005,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Airborne tanks and the British Army's unique legacy, April 13, 2011

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James D. Crabtree "Doc Crabtree" (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Airborne Armour: Tetrarch, Locust, Hamilcar And The 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment 1938-50 (Hardcover)

During WWII many countries looked at the possibility of deploying tanks and other armored vehicles by airborne means to the battlefield. This was especially taken seriously in light of the early successes of German parachute and glider operations. The British made the most progress towards resolving this problem and author Keith Flint discusses how the the development of the Hamilcar heavy glider, the Tetrarch light tank and the U.S.-made Locust airborne tank made airborne armor operations possible in the last year of the war. Discussion of British ideas for delivering heavier, more effective tanks to the battlefield by means of external gliding apparatus (including a tank autogyro!) are also discussed as well as airborne armor developments in other countries. A fascinating study, illustrated with many photos, drawings and maps.

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Must Have, May 17, 2007

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Michael Moore "Whoa Mohomed" (Ft Hood Tx) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Airborne Armour: Tetrarch, Locust, Hamilcar And The 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment 1938-50 (Hardcover)

Flint's coverage of airbourne armour fills a much needed gap in the wargamers Library.Buy it read it .