LandCraft Series
By Dennis Oliver, David Grummitt and Ben Skipper
()
About this series
Its groundbreaking aluminum hull gives the M113 a relatively low weight of 12ts, this allows it to be easily transported by air and gives it an amphibious ability. The design was also easy to modify and can carry a range of support and indirect fire weapons. From mortars to ballistic missiles, the M113 spawned a progeny of useful and innovative vehicles.
The base M113 is lightly armored and safe against only the lightest of small arms fire and shell splinter. As a result a range of up-armor packages have been used in the past, from sandbags to complex appliqué armur.
80,000 M113s of all types have been produced and are in use with over 50 countries, making it one of the most widely used armored fighting vehicles to be produced. Indeed such was its popularity that the US bought their final M113s in as late as 2007.
The M113 was designed and developed by the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) to replace the heavier and less reliable steel-bodied M59 and M75 armored personnel carriers. It was specifically designed to be lighter, air-portable and have amphibious capability. Carrying a crew of two, driver and commander, who manned the M113’s only weapon, a .50cal machine gun, the M113 would transport 11 soldiers into combat before withdrawing to the rear.
Powered initially by a V8 petrol engine the M113 would be continuously up-engined throughout its frontline and subsequent rear support lifespan. Changes included improved suspension, smoke dischargers and externally fitted fuel tanks. Other changes have included armored commander’s turrets and slat armor.
This LandCraft title looks at the M113s development where the FMC sought to utilize its chassis into as many roles as possible, from smoke generators to flamethrowers. The book also looks at how the M113 was adapted for use by numerous overseas customers and how these are upgraded to suit local conditions.
Finally the title looks at the M113’s changing roles in the more sophisticated contemporary battlescape and how it’s still providing service in theatres across the world in a variety of roles, both combat and support.
For the modeler there is nothing more important than the little things and this image-rich section of Land Crafts M113 title delivers the goods. Filled with crisp photos that show the M113’s many details, combined with helpful accompanying text, forms an enviable visual guide for the enthusiast and modeler alike.
Titles in the series (3)
- Kings of Battle US Self-Propelled Howitzers, 1981-2022
13
It is for good reason that artillery is known as the ‘king of battle’. In World War II the United States made good use of self-propelled howitzers, including those based on the chassis of the M4 Sherman tank. After 1945 the US developed both light and medium self-propelled howitzers, based on the M24 Chaffee, M41 Walker Bulldog and Sherman chassis. The first designs were plagued with problems and self-propelled artillery played only a minor role in the Korean War. By the mid 1960s, however, the M107 175mm, M109 155mm and M110 203mms self-propelled howitzers had entered service, and they proved their effectiveness during the Vietnam War. The M107 was relatively short-lived in US service, being retired in the late 1970s, but it played an important role with the Israel defense Forces. The M109 served with the US Army, as well as in many NATO armies and elsewhere, and saw action in the Middle East, in the Balkans, during the liberation of Kuwait, and in the invasion of Iraq. The M109 has now been in service for some sixty years and remains, in the guise of the M109A7, the current self-propelled howitzer of the US Army. The larger M110 203mm self-propelled howitzer similarly saw widespread service before it was retired in the early 1990s. Despite the emergence of rocket artillery, such as the Multiple Launch Rocket System, the self-propelled howitzer will remain one of the principal weapons systems of US military in the decades to come. The M107, M109 and M110 have proved popular subjects among modellers with a variety of kits available from the major manufacturers. As well as describing in detail the technical development and operational history of these guns, this book gives a full account of the wide range of modelling kits and accessories available in all the popular scales. Included is a modelling gallery which covers a range of variants and a section of large-scale color profiles which provide both information and inspiration for modellers and military enthusiasts alike.
- SDKFZ 251 – 251/9 and 251/22 Kanonenwagen: German Army and Waffen-SS Western and Eastern Fronts, 1944–1945
The Sdkfz 251 halftrack was one of the most versatile armored vehicles produced by either side in the Second World War. Designed by the firm of Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG, or Hanomag, production ran to over 15,000 vehicles and it was eventually built as twenty-three separate variants serving as not only a personnel carrier, but also a command vehicle, mobile rocket launcher, armored ambulance and bridge-layer. In his first book in the LandCraft series Dennis Oliver examines the Sdkfz 251 variants armed with the 7.5cm gun, initially used as an infantry support and reconnaissance halftrack and later as a tank killer as the result of Hitler's desperation to arm as many vehicles as possible with antitank weapons. Drawing on official documentation and unit histories Dennis investigates the formations that operated these deservedly famous vehicles and uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the markings, camouflage and technical aspects of the Sdkfz 251/9 and 251/22 halftracks that served on the Western and Eastern Fronts in the last months of the war. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.
- M113: American Armoured Personnel Carrier
The M113 has become as much a recognizable part of the US military machine at war as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois and M16 assault rifle. Earning its stripes in the jungles and highlands of Vietnam, it became the most widely armored vehicle of the campaign. Such was its prowess that the Viet Cong gave it the nickname Green Dragon on account of its ability to go virtually anywhere. Its groundbreaking aluminum hull gives the M113 a relatively low weight of 12ts, this allows it to be easily transported by air and gives it an amphibious ability. The design was also easy to modify and can carry a range of support and indirect fire weapons. From mortars to ballistic missiles, the M113 spawned a progeny of useful and innovative vehicles. The base M113 is lightly armored and safe against only the lightest of small arms fire and shell splinter. As a result a range of up-armor packages have been used in the past, from sandbags to complex appliqué armur. 80,000 M113s of all types have been produced and are in use with over 50 countries, making it one of the most widely used armored fighting vehicles to be produced. Indeed such was its popularity that the US bought their final M113s in as late as 2007. The M113 was designed and developed by the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) to replace the heavier and less reliable steel-bodied M59 and M75 armored personnel carriers. It was specifically designed to be lighter, air-portable and have amphibious capability. Carrying a crew of two, driver and commander, who manned the M113’s only weapon, a .50cal machine gun, the M113 would transport 11 soldiers into combat before withdrawing to the rear. Powered initially by a V8 petrol engine the M113 would be continuously up-engined throughout its frontline and subsequent rear support lifespan. Changes included improved suspension, smoke dischargers and externally fitted fuel tanks. Other changes have included armored commander’s turrets and slat armor. This LandCraft title looks at the M113s development where the FMC sought to utilize its chassis into as many roles as possible, from smoke generators to flamethrowers. The book also looks at how the M113 was adapted for use by numerous overseas customers and how these are upgraded to suit local conditions. Finally the title looks at the M113’s changing roles in the more sophisticated contemporary battlescape and how it’s still providing service in theatres across the world in a variety of roles, both combat and support. For the modeler there is nothing more important than the little things and this image-rich section of Land Crafts M113 title delivers the goods. Filled with crisp photos that show the M113’s many details, combined with helpful accompanying text, forms an enviable visual guide for the enthusiast and modeler alike.
Dennis Oliver
Dennis Oliver is the author of over twenty books on Second World War armored vehicles.
Read more from Dennis Oliver
Panther Medium Tank: German Army and Waffen SS Eastern Front Summer, 1943 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPanzer IV, Medium Tank: German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign , Summer 1944 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHetzer - Jagdpanzer 38 Tank Destroyer: German Army and Waffen-SS Western Front, 1944–1945 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDeath Ride of the Panzers: German Armor and the Retreat in the West, 1944-45 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pakwagen SDKFZ 234/3 and 234/4 Heavy Armoured Cars: German Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe Units—Western and Eastern Fronts, 1944–1945 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJagdpanzer IV - German Army and Waffen-SS Tank Destroyers: Western Front, 1944–1945 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tiger I: German Army Heavy Tank: Eastern Front, Summer 1943 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTiger I & Tiger II Tanks: German Army and Waffen-SS Normandy Campaign 1944 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Puma Sdkfz 234/1 and Sdkfz 234/2 Heavy Armoured Cars: German Army and Waffen-SS, Western and Eastern Fronts, 1944-1945 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSherman Tank Canadian, New Zealand and South African Armies: Italy, 1943–1945 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Panzer III German Army Light Tank: North Africa El Alamein to Tunis, 1941–1943 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHitler's Ardennes Offensive: The German View of the Battle of the Bulge Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Sherman Tanks: US Army, North-Western Europe, 1944–1945 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to LandCraft
Related ebooks
Kings of Battle US Self-Propelled Howitzers, 1981-2022 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJagdpanther Tank Destroyer: German Army and Waffen-SS, Western Europe, 1944–1945 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCannon in Canada, Province by Province, Volume 9: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAir Combat 1945: The Aircraft of World War II's Final Year Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWildcats over Casablanca Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPanzer III, German Army Light Tank: North Africa, Tripoli to El Alamein 1941–1942 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Evolution Of The Armored Force, 1920-1940 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBritish Escort Destroyers of the Second World War Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks: German Army and Waffen-SS The Last Battles in the East, 1945 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All Ahead Full: World War II Memoirs of an Lsm 215 Veteran Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSherman Tanks: US Army, North-Western Europe, 1944–1945 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsM29 Weasel Tracked Cargo Carrier & Variants Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWorld War 2 In Review No. 31: American Fighting Vehicles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWorld War 2 In Review No. 27: Mitsubishi Ki-46 Dinah Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Dark Age of Tanks: Britain's Lost Armour, 1945–1970 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Panzers I & II: Germany's Light Tanks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsModelling a Tiger I s.Pz.Abt.507, East Prussia, November 1944: In I/35 scale Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTank Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Nazi 88 Made Believers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThunder Over Vietnam: The American Air War in Southeast Asia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTank Hunter: World War One Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPuma Sdkfz 234/1 and Sdkfz 234/2 Heavy Armoured Cars: German Army and Waffen-SS, Western and Eastern Fronts, 1944-1945 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWorld War 2 In Review No. 30: Grumman's Wildcat Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Stug III & Stug IV: German Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe: Western Front, 1944–1945 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Centurion Tank Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5HH-60 Pave Hawk Helicopters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNaval Battles of the Second World War: The Atlantic and the Mediterranean Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buckingham Army Air Field Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDreadnoughts: An Illustrated History Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Wars & Military For You
Unacknowledged: An Expose of the World's Greatest Secret Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The God Delusion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Daily Creativity Journal Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Unit 731: Testimony Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Kingdom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Art of War: The Definitive Interpretation of Sun Tzu's Classic Book of Strategy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/577 Days of February: Living and Dying in Ukraine, Told by the Nation’s Own Journalists Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rise of the Fourth Reich: The Secret Societies That Threaten to Take Over America Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bill O'Reilly's Legends and Lies: The Civil War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for LandCraft
0 ratings0 reviews