The US Army in World War II, Volume 2: The Mediterranean (Men-At-Arms Series, 347) (Paperback)

by Mark Henry (Author), Mike Chappell (Illustrator) "THE US ARMY that sailed for the Mediterranean theatre in late 1942 was a very untried force..." (more)
Key Phrases: thigh cargo pockets, mountain trousers, buckle boots, Infantry Division, World War, Armored Division (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
It was the Mediterranean theatre which saw the blooding of the US Army against the German Wehrmacht, in North Africa in winter 1943/44. After this rough education the US forces pressed on to Sicily, the South of France and the Italian mainland. Here, faced by difficult terrain , they and their British Commonwealth allies fought a long campaign until VE-Day. This second of a series of three MAA titles covers the uniforms worn on these fronts, including US Army cold weather, airborne and tankers' gear; some particularly interesting and important units, including mountain, Japanese-American and African-American troops; and a variety of crew-served weapons. Men-at-Arms 342, 347 and 350 are also available as a single volume special edition as ‘The US Army in World War II’.

From the Publisher
Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; illustrated edition edition (November 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841760854
• ISBN-13: 978-1841760858
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #746,332 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Improvement on Earlier Works in this Series, December 22, 2001

By	El Cutachero (MD USA) - See all my reviews

This book is part of a set covering the US Army of WW II. Compared to the earlier volumes published by Osprey, it is an A compared to a D. The other volumes were superficial and suffered either from trying to cover too much or too long a period or written by authors who simply were not familiar enough with the period covered.
This one is written by a knowledgable author and is superbly illustrated by the magnificent Mike Chappell. Drawing on multitudinous sources, these three volumes will satisfy those who want to know what grandaddy looked like in the war and give a useful overview for those not needing more detailed knowledge.
As a long time specialist in the period, I learned things and recommend this highly.
See my reviews of the other two volumes in this set.

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent coverage, July 25, 2004

By	Michael A Dorosh (Calgary, AB, CANADA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Colour plates by the superb Mike Chappell make this one a treat. Excellent, interesting and varied poses, great use of colour to simulate the different materials and textures, and historical accuracy make the plates a terrific complement.

Comments here apply to volume (2) of the series. Very nice overview of unit organization, equipment, medals, a chart on ranks, shoulder patches, and more. Like the German series, these are very nice and useful sidebars and often cover information taken for granted in other, supposedly more comprehensive, works. Nice rare photos, and additional info on vehicles and "elite" unit in Italy make this a very well rounded volume of good overall interest.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I have no idea what multitudinous means..., March 10, 2004

By	"jpn607" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

...but I would probably just say "many".

Unlike Carter Rila, the author of this book is direct and to the point. A very good overview of US forces, weapons, equipment and uniforms in one nifty volume. Not a detailed guide by any means, and only a starting point for serious research - but as a quick and dirty guide to US troops in the Med, a nice little book.

Chappel's artwork is excellent; it was a shame the Singapore version shipped with charcoal sketches by the publisher's son. The Chappel prints are much nicer.