The American Arsenal: The World War II Official Standard Ordnance Catalog of Artillery, Small Arms, Tanks, Armored Cars, Antiaircraft Guns, Ammunition, Grenades, Mines (Greenhill Military Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Ian V Hogg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Greenhill Military Paperbacks | Publication Date: August 14, 2001

This superb large-format reference book is the ultimate illustrated guide to the equipment used by the U.S. Army during World War II. No other single source provides so much accurate and authentic detail on weapons, vehicles, ammunition and other combat equipment, together with an authoritative explanation of the development and introduction processes. The facts and figures are profusely illustrated with over 700 photographs and drawings, and set in context in the Introduction by military equipment expert Ian V. Hogg. During World War II, various military agencies produced catalogues to fill in the gaps left by the official U.S. War Department manuals. This led to inconsistent technical data appearing in different sources. In order to standardise the information and properly catalogue all the equipment, the U.S. Ordnance Department began putting together the master guide now published as The American Arsenal, covering every piece of equipment in use and being produced. Every figure, date, specification and description was authenticated by reference to Ordnance Committee Minutes and similar authorities. The vast amount of technical information included makes this an invaluable reference work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books (August 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853674702
• ISBN-13: 978-1853674709
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,132,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very comprehensive!, August 1, 2001

By 

"mackwb" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The American Arsenal: The World War II Official Standard Ordnance Catalog of Artillery, Small Arms, Tanks, Armored Cars, Antiaircraft Guns, Ammunition, Grenades, Mines (Greenhill Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)

This catelog is very comprehensive in terms of the number of weapons used by the US in WW2. Basically it is composed of copies of the original documents. Some weapons are missing, the Colt 1911 & tommy gun, but info on them is easy to find elsewhere. Excellent diagrams of ammo & mines. I would like a little more info on some of the more obscure arms, but taken as a whole this title is an excellent reference. I would like to see more titles, as comprehensive as this, concerning the other participants of ww2.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How can you go wrong with Ian Hogg?, August 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The American Arsenal: The World War II Official Standard Ordnance Catalog of Artillery, Small Arms, Tanks, Armored Cars, Antiaircraft Guns, Ammunition, Grenades, Mines (Greenhill Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful overview of American technology "on the ground" in WWII. One thing that I felt that Mr. Hogg might have added is some consideration of production numbers and dates as an appendix.

5.0 out of 5 stars CONCISE CATALOG OF OFFICIAL STD. WORLD WAR 2 ORDANCE, May 9, 2006

By 

Heather L. Parisi "Robert and Heather Parisi" (St. Augustine, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The American Arsenal: The World War II Official Standard Ordnance Catalog of Artillery, Small Arms, Tanks, Armored Cars, Antiaircraft Guns, Ammunition, Grenades, Mines (Greenhill Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)

THIS IS A CATALOG OF STANDARD ORDNANCE FROM THE OFFICIAL U.S. WORLD WAR 2 ARSENAL

IN A NUTSHELL: IT DOESN'T GET AN CLEARER OR SIMPLER THAN THIS & FULLY ILLUSTRATED TOO!

If one is at all interested in military hardware, especially from an historical standpoint, this book will be impossible to put down. Basically, most everything, from fuses, to artillery shells and pieces to mines, mortars and grenades are included. Enough useful info is included for each individual ordnance for one to realize how these weapons might best have been used and to what effect. In some cases, the penetrating power of projectiles is also included, and this is especially important with tanks, which of course were also included, complete with detailed diagrams and specs.

BOTTOM LINE: EXACTLY WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE