Marines Under Armor: The Marine Corps and the Armored Fighting Vehicle, 1916-2000 (Hardcover)

~ Kenneth W. Estes (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...highly recommended, especially since the Army is currently confronted with the issue of light versus heavy and rapid deployment." -- Armor, May-June 2002

Product Description

In this story of men, machines and missions, Kenneth Estes tells how the U.S. Marine Corps came to acquire the armored fighting vehicle and what it tried to do with it. The longtime Marine tank officer and noted military historian offers an insider's view of the Corps's acquisition and use of armored fighting vehicles over the course of several generations, a view that illustrates the characteristics of the Corps as a military institution and of the men who have guided its development. His book examines the planning, acquisition, and employment of tanks, amphibian tractors, and armored cars and explores the ideas that led to the fielding of these weapons systems along with the doctrines and tactics intended for them, and their actual use in combat.

Drawing on archival resources previously untouched by researchers and interviews of both past and serving crewmen, Estes presents a unique and unheralded story that is filled with new information and analysis of the armored vehicles, their leaders, and the men who drove these steel chariots into battle. Such authoritative detail and documentation of the decisions to acquire, develop, and organize armored units in the U.S. Marine Corps assures the book's acknowledgement as a definitive reference.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 267 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press; First printing edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557502374
• ISBN-13: 978-1557502377
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #976,158 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good, but narrowly focused, history of Marine armor, March 13, 2008

By	Jeffrey W. Prowse "wombat46" (Huddleston, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well written and concise. The author focuses on acquisition, programmatics and doctrine - the exploits and combat history of Marine tank units are not covered in detail. Readers looking for coverage of tactical and operational details regarding Marine tank units in combat should look elsewhere. That said, the Marine Corps debate on armor, as it related to force structure and doctrine are well described. A great case study in how military services struggle to organize, train and equip for the next conflict.