Amtracs: US Amphibious Assault Vehicles

Description

The first prototype for the LVT (Landing Vehicle Tracked) was completed in July 1941, its design based on the Alligator, a tracked amphibious vehicle developed for rescue operations in the swamps of Florida. Though the early conception of amtrac operations envisioned using LVTs solely as supply vehicles, at Tarawa amtracs demonstrated their utility as assault vehicles to carry troops, leading to the development of new models. This book covers the evolution of amtracs, from the first LVT-1 to the LVT-7; their numerous variants; and their use throughout World War II and beyond.

Steven J. Zaloga was born in 1952. He received his BA in history from Union College, and his MA from Columbia University. He has published numerous books and articles dealing with modern military technology, especially armoured vehicle development. His main area of interest is military affairs in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the Second World War, and he has also written extensively on American armoured forces. Mike Badrocke is one of Osprey's most highly respected and accomplished illustrators, notably in the field of precision 'cutaway' artwork, as exemplified in this volume. He has produced quality artwork for numerous books, magazines and industry publications throughout the world, not only in the field of militaria, but also in the intricate and technically demanding sphere of aviation publishing. Terry Hadler has illustrated a number of Osprey titles over the years, including New Vanguard 26: German Light Panzers 1932-42 and has a special interest in armoured vehicles.