Tanks: An Illustrated History of Their Impact

Front Cover
Bloomsbury Academic, Oct 25, 2004 - History - 379 pages

This expert study discusses the development and evolution of the tank and the tactics behind its employment, covering both its capabilities as a weapons system and its strategic use on the battlefield.

Tanks: An Illustrated History of the Their Impact follows the development of tracked-and-armored fighting vehicles across the 20th century, from the world wars to the Cold War battlefields of Korea and Vietnam; and from Arab–Israeli conflicts to the Persian Gulf. The book describes the distinctive characteristics and capabilities of each new generation of tank, as well as the formulation of armored doctrines and deployment strategies in France, Britain, Germany, the Soviet Union, the United States, Japan, Israel, and the Arab nations.

It is an expert introduction to how the role of the tank has changed over time, a story of technological innovation, strategic daring, desperate battles (Stalingrad, Kursk), and charismatic commanders like Erwin Rommel and George S. Patton (who defeated Rommel's division by following a plan from the Desert Fox's own book).

About the author (2004)

Spencer C. Tucker is a professor of history and holds the John Biggs Chair of Military History at the Virginia Military Institute. A graduate of VMI, he served as a captain in Army Intelligence during 1965-1967. He lives in Lexington, VA.

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