U.S. Armed Forces Arsenal: A Guide To Modern Combat Hardware [Paperback]

Samuel A. Southworth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2004

Today's arsenal of war contains some of the most sophisticated weapons ever seen on the battlefield. The technological revolution has drastically altered how war is fought and brought about the invention of some highly unusual (and effective) weapons. In the recent war with Iraq, we caught a glimpse of the new high-tech weapons in America's arsenal and the wide-ranging array of modern equipment and transportation used by our armed forces. America's modern military hardware is the envy -and fear-of the world.In U.S. Armed Forces Arsenal, noted military historian Samuel A. Southworth takes the reader on an informal and informative guided tour of this new arsenal of weaponry. He explains in clear and concise prose the new generation of military hardware, from rifles to mortars, jeeps to tanks, robotic drones to night vision sensors, and all manner of bombs, missiles and rockets-the arms and armaments that have reshaped the way the U.S. goes to war, on land and sea and in the air.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Noted military historian Samuel A. Southworth takes the reader on an informal and informative guided tour...Clear and concise prose." -- Military Ink February 2004

"[A] handy book for historians and all others with thoughts of joining the armed forces...a highly interesting read." -- Hollywood Inside Syndicate 5/3/04

About the Author

Samuel A. Southworth is a researcher and writer living in New York City. He is the editor of the acclaimed Great Raids in History. In his spare time, he leads mountain wilderness trips for leadership groups.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (March 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306813181
• ISBN-13: 978-0306813184
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,572,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misinformative and Not Recommended., January 15, 2006

By 

Michael Z. Williamson (Greenwood, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: U.S. Armed Forces Arsenal: A Guide To Modern Combat Hardware (Paperback)

I'd hoped to find a decent overview in this small volume. However, Southworth consistently calls a rifle magazine a "clip," isn't clear on the difference between normal payload and emergency maximum payload of a C-130 Hercules, states the maximum range of the Mark 45 naval gun to be 63 miles, which is only true for a hideously expensive prototype round that likely won't be fielded, exaggerates the capabilities of the Browning .50 and classifies Thompsons and M3A1 carbines as "squad weapons" at one point. And I'm not positive from the picture, but his "M249 SAW" looks awfully like an M240B machine gun.

I didn't care for the prose. It was the sort of chat you get from drunken wannabes or recruits about how great certain things are in comparison, without any real-world feedback on how things work.

I'm afraid the enthusiasm was lost in about a minute, and I expect to get rid of this one quickly. It's no use as a reference and not that entertaining.

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vivid Prose, Laced With Surprising Humor, April 22, 2004

By 

Jennifer Prescott (Mamaroneck, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: U.S. Armed Forces Arsenal: A Guide To Modern Combat Hardware (Paperback)

One wouldn't expect it from a first glance at this compact volume about modern combat hardware, but the prose has a literary quality that is absolutely first-rate. While the subject matter is serious, to say the least, Southworth enlivens this tour of modern weaponry with laugh-out-loud humor, sly turns of phrase, and photograph captions peppered with witticisms that make you look twice. (I actually did laugh out loud numerous times while reading it--which made other subway riders a little nervous when they glanced at the book's cover.) Southworth couples a true aficionado's exuberance for the astounding array of gadgetry, guns, tanks, planes, ships and bombs in America's arsenal with a historian's sober wisdom about what all this stuff really means for our enemies: it ain't pretty, and they's be advised to turn tail and scurry into a nearby cave before messing with us. He has clearly done his homework--the book is rich with facts and details--but it is his thoughtful analysis and commentary that makes this book stand out among others of its kind. Southworth illuminates his subject with a unique and almost poetic sensibility--a rare touch for a subject that if often dry and straightforward. While military technology grows ever-sophisticated, this book will stand the test of time and would be a valuable addition to any military historian's bookshelf. It also fits in the coat pocket quite nicely--a reminder on a lazy afternoon stroll that freedom doesn't come easy, and that the arms and armaments we've developed have been a powerful force in preserving it.