Modern U.S. Tanks & AFVs (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The cutting edge of U.S. Army armor-protected firepower on today's battlefields is represented by the various versions of the well-known M1 series of Abrams tanks..." (more)
Key Phrases: rear turret bustle, vehicle commander, main gun (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Conceived during World War I, tanks still play a crucial role on the modern battlefield providing excellent mobility, sophisticated communications, lethal firepower, and effective armor protection. Together, these assets provide the shock effect necessary to close with and destroy the enemy in most any condition.

Modern U.S. Tanks & AFVs examines the development, capabilities, and service histories of some of the most important and interesting tanks, armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), wheeled armored firepower, and indirect armored fire-support vehicles used by the U.S. military today, including: amphibious assault vehicles (AAVP), the full range of M1 Abrams tanks, Bradleys, armored Humvees, and Strykers. In typical ECS fashion, color photographs depict each type in training exercises. There will also be discussions of how the 1999 "Army Vision" transformation strategy calling for lighter and more maneuverable armed forces precipitated the development of some of the weapons covered.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Zenith Press (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760314675
• ISBN-13: 978-0760314678
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,031,778 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book on Tanks and AFVs, November 4, 2003

By	A. Joyal (Los Gatos, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Modern U.S. Tanks and AFVs condenses hard-to-find information into an attractive an easy-to-read format. The four chapters are Tanks, Armored Infantry Vehicles, Wheeled Armored Firepower and Indirect Armored Fire Support. The photography is uniformly excellent and the book's color reproduction is unusually high in quality. A glance at the credits shows that the authors went out of their way to get information from people directly involved with the development, fielding, operation and support of these vehicles. This book provides an easy way to learn about the latest developments in ground combat current technology and tactics. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A Great Book On U.S.'s Current Armored Forces, October 28, 2003

By	ramon (Alameda, California) - See all my reviews

I have been looking for the most recent information on what our boys overseas are fighting with in terms of armored vehicles and this book definitely provides the most up to date information with references to recent events in 2003. Every significant armored vehicle in the current US inventory is described in detailed words and pictures. You will not be bored if you are into armor. Being partial to tanks I am alarmed to learn that more of our forces are depending on lightly armored wheeled vehicles now and in the future. It is my hope that recent experiences with RPGs rockets in Iraq will convince Pentagon planners to put our citizen soldiers under better protection.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Beaut of a Book!, June 11, 2005

By	Michael Horn "mikie" (US Army Combat Support Training Center, Dublin, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This publication goes out of it's way to show US Armor in all it's possible glory. Although I was at first horrifed to see the book was printed in CHINA, the money saved for highest quality printing and production was worth the irony of having our greatest 21st Century potential military foe printing a book cataloging our armored force.

This is a rare gem of a publication that focuses exclusively on our current era equipment, the source materials, editing and content showing production topic and story discipline very rare in this book category. The book strikes a unique balance between pictures and content. It is not a "list" book - but a beautiful portrait of the US Army and Marine Corps in 21st Century military transition.

Divided between "legacy equipment" and transitional/future combat platforms by track and wheel, tank, AFV, rocket and tube artillery, the book goes into a level of detail that keeps military buffs satisfied - and confuses only a minority of curious civilians. This is more than a starter book.

I enjoyed the clarity of content and portrayal of weapons systems, comprehensive and easy to understand historical storyline and current contractors proudly displaying their latest (2002/2003)production. The detail level is astonishingly accurate - I being directly involved in many of these programs as a defense contractor/retired Army officer. FBCB2 (digital) data in the M-1A2 or M-1D tanks is bleeding edge state of the art capability shared with the reader!

The nostalgia of reviewing early 1980's legacy equipment brought back fond memories of wonderful people, interesting places and threats that no longer exist. Anyone who has served from 1970 on will be be fascinated with the progress of armored vehicle development, capabilities and the lethality of newer equipment. Equipment is mostly shown in field use - photography is stunningly first rate. Looks like many contractor marketing and testing photographs were used.

NOT included are pictures of our latest improvisations and armor updates to the threat our forces face in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since publication - "birdcage" RPG screens have been added to the Stryker and M1114 uparmored HMMWVs have undergone additional modifications. I hope a newer addition of this book sees print.

Pretty enough to display to your liberal friends as a "coffee table" book - the rich color photographs and clear readable storyline of a force in transition is a wonderful addition to anyone's military library.