Counter to the often seen images of military vehicles pushing their way through mud, the only effective way to operate in deep snow is to stay on top of it and the only way to stay on top is by maintaining a low ground pressure. The U.S. Army tested, and sometimes bought in limited quantities, a number of vehicles whose principle function was to operate over the top of snow; virtually all of these were track-laying vehicles. In some instances the army turned to manufacturers of civilian snow machines and some instances, commercial machines were adapted to military use. In other cases, military programs resulted in the refinement of some designs and creation of totally new ones. Some were from established manufacturers of snow equipment, while others were the work of firms not normally associated with snow vehicles. The later was the case with the Studebaker-developed family of T15 and T24 cargo carriers, which went on to become the M28 and M29 vehicles, popularly known as Weasels. Noted military vehicle historian David Doyle unravels the complex story of these unique vehicles using over 225 wartime and contemporary images. Drawing off rare private archives, Mr. Doyle delves into the development of the early prototypes and concepts. He then illuminates the vehicle's use in WW2 and Korea with dozens of vivid photos. Completing the story are several exquisite restored examples, all of which are shown in full color. A title not to be missed by the U.S. military vehicle enthusiast, or anyone with an interest in unusual automotive designs.
- ISBN10 1944367128
- ISBN13 9781944367121
- Publish Date 31 May 2017
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Ampersand Publishing Company, Incorporated
- Format Paperback
- Pages 120
- Language English