About The Book

Updated and extended for the new 2025 edition. An impressive 576 pages, this book is an authoritative history and directory of tanks and their immediate derivatives, such as ARVs (armored recovery vehicles), tank destroyers, command versions, bridgelayers, mine-clearers and other Funnies, and AFVs such as armored cars, armored personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery, covering a vast range of wheeled, tracked and semi-tracked vehicles. This unique volume, with over 1200 wartime and museum photographs, brings together the most significant tanks and AFVs in military history. The tank was developed as a means of transporting firepower around the battlefield, while armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) give tactical support to the tank. This book is an authoritative history and directory of tanks and their immediate derivatives, such as armored recovery vehicles, tank destroyers, command versions, bridgelayers, mine-clearers and other "Funnies". It also explores a wide range of AFVs, such as armored cars, armored personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery, covering wheeled, tracked and semi-tracked vehicles. From their first appearance to their present-day roles, the development of each vehicle is discussed in depth. All of the major conflicts around the world are examined, such as the Somme, Blitzkrieg, El Alamein, Kursk, D-Day, Korea, Vietnam, Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the Iran-Iraq and Gulf wars. The book also features substantial A to Z directories of over 400 vehicles, from the world's first tank - the No. 1 Lincoln Machine "Little Willie" - to the contemporary M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank and Varta APC, as well as madcap ideas such as those developed by the British for the Home Guard. This unique volume, illustrated with over 1200 wartime and museum photographs, brings together all the most significant tanks and AFVs that have played important roles in military history.

About The Authors

Francis Crosby has had a deep interest in aviation since an early age. After qualifying and working as an archaeologist, in 1985 he joined the Imperial War Museum’s branch at Duxford, England, acknowledged as one of the world’s leading centres for aviation enthusiasts. Having held research and exhibition posts at the museum, he headed Duxford’s Marketing Department for many years before establishing his own consultancy. He has written extensively on historic aviation and has acted as a consultant for the media and the publishing industry. His published works include Bombers and The World Encyclopedia of Naval Aircraft.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Lorenz Books (June 6, 2017)
  • Length: 576 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780754833512

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