Amtracs: US Amphibious Assault Vehicles (New Vanguard, 30)

I have been purchasing books from Osprey's New Vanguard, Campaign, Battle Orders, and Elite series for over 20 years as concise references to augment my special interest in naval and military history of the 20th Century. Until this year their uniform published format rendered them a favored place in my reference library. Always, of value were their maps, images, cutouts, and artworks. Although their detailed specifications too often were in error, through apparent loose proofing, their strong points made up for this.However, I have become leery of purchasing any new release or reprint after receiving, first, Campaign 137, "Saipan & Tinian 1944: Piercing the Japanese Empire" and then, New Vanguard 30, "Amtracs: US Amphibious Assault Vehicles". Most noticeable is their having gone to publishing using a thinner paper that greatly reduces the spin thickness resulting in the spine cover printing crossing over the edges. This becomes distractingly noticeable when placed beside Saipan's related volume, CAM 139 "Guam 1941 & 1944. The former is barely half the thickness of the latter. On "Amtracs", the spine title printing runs off and onto the back cover and the illustrator's name ends at the very edge of the front cover. This reduction of paper thickness means that the uniform thickness of same-series volumes will no longer be the same. The new 96-page Campaign series falls between the older 50-page New Vanguard and 64-page Elite series.The next issue is that these newest additions both are bound so tightly, or do not have enough facing margins, that the two-page maps, battlescenes, and cutout drawing centers are masked and therefore can only be seen if an e-book version is obtained.The last major flaw pertains to the "Amtracs" volume, and together with all above, was the reason for my returning it for a refund. All the black & white photographs are washed out with a smoky haze. I pondered whether I should keep or return if for several days. Finally I decided to return it because I felt that Osprey had republished an old work of theirs without putting the needed efforts to give their customers the quality that their past works had earned them. None of the flaws that I have noted here could not have been remedied with the technology they have on hand. But instead, it seems that they merely through things together and did not even look at the results before they sent them off to their suppliers. They didn't even adjust the price to reflect their bypassing any serious quality control. If this had been the first of their books that I purchased, I would never have bought another. In fact, I have no current plan to buy another recently published work of theirs. I will instead look for "new" or "like new" older ones that still have size specs that reflect the original spine widths.

This is a very good booklet (48 pages) on the history of the LVT type of amphibious vehicle. It covers LVT -1 through LVTP-7, both Marine Corps and Army variants. It includes experimental and prototype vehicles that were used to develop "next generation" models after WW II and in the 1960s through the 1990s.My only criticisms are the very sparse tabulations of vehicle dimensions and performance characteristics. There is a single tabulation for the LVT-4 on pages 28 -29 (Plate D). There are not even any indications of cargo or troop carrying capacities and most WW II LVTs were constructed as amphibious cargo transporters.The book "Allied Landing Craft of World War II" reprinted by ONI in 1985 provides detailed dimension and performance tabulations of all the LVT models used in WW II. The tabulations include the cargo and troop carrying capacities and armaments.

Osprey New Vanguard Series #30 entitled "AMTRACS" is a very good primer on tracked amphibious assault craft - mainly focusing on WWII, but also taking a quick look at post WWII amphibians.The story begins, I'm glad to say, at the beginning with Donald Roebling in the late 1930's who degigned an amphibious, tracked vehicle for civilian rescue teams in swamps of the southeastern US after he witnessed disastrous hurricanes and their effects in Florida. The successful design drew attention from the US Marine Corps. who saw the value of such a design for military purposes.In spite of naval opposition, the Marines managed to get some of these units Roebling redesigned for military use. They would come in handy in a few short years. The AMTRACS took part in the Guadalcanal landings, though the landings themselves were unopposed. The next test for the AMTRACS was Tarawa. Rear Admiral Kelly Turner rejected the use of AMTRACS for the landings as it was believed the other landing craft would clear the reef surrounding tarawa atoll, but Marine Gen. H.M. Smith stubbornly stated: "No AMTRACS, no operation!" Fortunately, Smith's view prevailed as the reef turned out to be too high to allow the other landing craft access to the beaches and many Marines died trying to wade from reef to shore. Suffice it to say that Tarawa would have been an American defeat without the AMTRACS.The book moves on to other landings and the upgrade to the AMTRACS' armor and armament as the war went on and amphibious invasions became larger and better executed. The book covers the AMTanks as well as support versions with pack howitzers and field modifications with a plethora of additional armor and weapons added to them.If the book has a fault, it only briefly mentions use of the AMTRACS in Korea (the Inchon landings changed the course of the war), Vietnam, and other conflicts where US-supplied equipment was used. I understand that WWII in the Pacific was undoubtedly the apex or amphibious warfare, but they have been used since and the US Marines still have such vehicles. The author covers them, but only briefly.On the whole, this is a good Osprey title where the author did a fine job on what he did cover and this is certainly a worthwhile purchase with much good information as well as the usual, excellent color artwork and photos/illustrations. I recommend this with four stars.

Excellent photos for inspiration...excellent reference book for modelers

This book provides a reasonable overview of amphibious assault vehicles from the beginning of WWI throught he 1990's. Most of the focus of the book is on developments during World War II but it also spends a considerable amount of time on the models that were made afterwards. I found the book informative but would have preferred a greater focus on the Amtrakcs used during World War II.

Covers all types very well

OK

I normally have a great deal of time for Zaloga's work, but this is one of those rare misses. This is a book which would have benefitted greatly from schematic diagrams to illustrate the difference and evolution of the different Amtrac models - and even how amtanks varied. (As was done in the M3 halftrack book). Mixing the history, origins, organisation, variants development into one long text makes it too complex and unwieldy to follow easily. Use in the ETO for the Roer and Rhine Rivers isn't well covered - it is less than a page's worth. (He doesn't cite from any field manuals on tactical employment or even acknowledge there was at least one on Omaha beach soon after D-Day (Oh, yes there was - check the Navy colour film and John Gawne's Spearheading D-Day). Too much was spent on post war evolution for my taste - but the title is broad and shallow.In essence - not on par and this is one title that could really do with going back and re-working. Sorry Steven....

very informative

Great book to read glad I found it hope they will do one on the comet tank soon ???????????????? Thank you.