Search results for ""author david doyle""

Design work on the Skyraider began at the behest of the US Navy late in WWII. Production began in 1946, and the type made its combat debut in the hands of naval aviators during the Korean War. In the following years, the rugged airframe and powerful engine meant that the type could be adapted into ever-expanding roles of attack, reconnaissance, weather, and electronic-countermeasure types. Though regarded by many as obsolete, in Vietnam the Skyraider again saw combat, now in the hands of not only US Navy and Marine pilots, but also USAF and Republic of Vietnam airmen. Capable of flying low and slow while armed with a massive array of ordnance, the Skyraider not only took on the role of attack aircraft but was also used as air cover for troops on the ground. Its impressive payload earned it the nickname of the "flying dump truck," while its reliance on a massive radial engine in an otherwise jet age caused others to refer to the Skyraider as the "Spad," in homage to the WWI fighter.

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Originally developed as a swamp rescue vehicle by millionaire philanthropists Donald and John Roebling, the LVT (Landing Vehicle, Tracked), or "Alligator," was widely used in the Allied island-hopping campaign in the Pacific during World War II. Powered by a mammoth aircraft-type engine, the LVT(4) could cross treacherous coral reefs, deep water, and swamps to land troops ashore. The LVT(4) also introduced the rear ramp, which when lowered allowed troops to rush out, rather than clamber over the tall sides as on previous models. Produced by Food Machinery Corporation (FMC), railway equipment manufacturer St. Louis Car Company, and automobile maker Graham-Paige, over 8,000 LVT(4)s were built during the war; today only a few remain. Through dozens of archival photos as well as detailed photographs of some of the finest existent examples of these vehicles, this iconic landing vehicle is explored, and its history is explained.

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Based on an adaptation of the White Scout Car, the US half-track vehicles of WWII combined the cross-country ability of a fully tracked vehicle with the road performance of a medium truck. A myriad of variations of these vehicles were produced, including prime movers, armored personnel carriers, mortar carriers, and a wide range of heavily armed variants. Antiaircraft versions were often used against ground targets with devastating results. In fact, despite half-track production ending in March 1944, demand for half-track vehicles mounting quadruple .50-caliber machine guns was so great during the Korean War that additional examples were produced through the wholesale modification of personnel carriers. Although phased out of service by the US military in the late 1950s, the Israeli forces continued to use these remarkable vehicles through the 1980s. This volume includes coverage of the vehicles produced by Autocar, Diamond T, and White for use by US forces, as well as the similar International Harvester–built vehicles supplied to our allies through Lend-Lease. Illustrated with over 200 vintage photos, as well as line drawings and color profiles.

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Powered by twin General Motors diesel engines, the M4A2 Sherman was the standard tank of the US Marine Corps during WWII. In such service, having a common fuel with many of the landing craft simplified logistics. The M4A2 was also supplied in large numbers to Russia as well as the British. The M4A2 was used in some of the most severe tank combat of the war, both on Pacific islands and on the Eastern Front. This book chronicles the development and use of these vehicles from concept to combat. Through dozens of archival photos, many never before published, as well as detailed photographs of some of the finest existent examples of surviving vehicles, these iconic armored fighting vehicles are explored, and their history is explained.

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A concise history of the design, development, and deployment of USS Enterprise (CV-6). Though it barely missed being caught and destroyed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US Navy's USS Enterprise (CV-6) aircraft carrier took part in every major action of the Pacific War, from the Doolittle Raid to the battles of Midway, Santa Cruz, and Guadalcanal to the Philippine Sea and Leyte. Affectionately known as the "Big E," as well as the "fightingest ship in the Navy," the Enterprise racked up one of the most impressive tallies of damage to the enemy of any Allied warship during WWII. Explores Enterprise's design and construction, wartime activities, and ultimate postwar decommissioning and scrapping Carefully researched photos, many of which have never before been published. The clarity and large size of many of the photos, coupled with descriptive and informative captions, put the reader on the deck of this historic warship throughout its famed history.

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Carrying the highest hull number ever assigned to a commissioned US battleship, the Wisconsin was the last of the four Iowa-class battleships—along with the Iowa, New Jersey, and Missouri. The Wisconsin fought through the final year of WWII, saw extensive service during the Korean War, and then was recalled to arms to liberate Kuwait during the Gulf War in 1991. During the latter war, Wisconsin not only loosed its massive 16-inch cannons but launched Tomahawk cruise missiles deep into enemy territory. Finally released from Navy service, the battleship today is a floating museum moored near downtown Norfolk, Virginia. This book, through more than 250 photos, documents the battleship from design and construction, through combat during each of its wars, to its preservation today.

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The battleship USS New York served the Navy from 1914 until just after WWII. New York was famously sent to reinforce the British Grand Fleet during WWI. Extensively rebuilt and modernized in 1927–28, New York continued to serve both in the Atlantic and the Pacific fleets and was in drydock being further modernized on December 7, 1941. It rejoined the fleet, first providing escort in the Atlantic, then providing gunfire support for Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa. Transferred to the Pacific Fleet in late 1944, New York turned its 14-inch guns on enemy positions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Following the war, New York was declared obsolete and used as a target for the 1946 atomic blasts at Bikini Atoll, survived the tests, and was eventually sunk by conventional weapons in July 1948. The hundreds of photographs in this volume trace the history of this warship from its launching in 1914, through two world wars, to atomic bomb testing. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

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Going into WWII, the prevailing strategy of the US command was that takns were not to be used to engage enemy tanks in combat. Rather, tanks were to be the armored spearhead to breach enemy positions. Enemy tanks were to be dealt with by specialized weapons, aptly named tank destroyers. While the 3-inch weapon of the M10 was superior to that found on earlier US tank destroyers, it was still found to be inadequate against the ever-increasing weight of German armor. An even larger gun, the 90mm M3, was placed in a new, bigger open-topped turret on 100 new hulls purpose built for this, and by remanufacturing M10A1s, primarily from US-based training units. As the supply of these chassis was depleted, additional vehicles were created by converting Diesel-powered M10s, resulting in the M36B2\. The M36B1 was built from the ground-up as a tank destroyer, using a hull based on that of the M4A3 but featuring a standard M36 turret. Examination of rare surviving vehicles indicate that the M36B1 hulls were manufactured expressly for this purpose, and were not merely M4A3 hulls that were converted. While US antitank doctrine changed, rendering all the tank destroyers obsolete post-WWII, many of these vehicles were supplied to other nations, and in fact some survived as combat vehicles into the 21st century.

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The Grumman F6F Hellcat formed the backbone of America’s carrier-based fighter force as the Allies pressed the war toward Japan. Powered by a massive and reliable Pratt & Whitney radial engine, the Hellcat racked up an incredible 19:1 kill ratio against its foes in WWII, and 305 aviators earned ace status while flying the Hellcat. Such famed US naval aces as David McCampbell, Cecil Harris, Eugene Valencia, and Alex Vraciu all flew the Hellcat. In addition to its wing-mounted .50-caliber machine guns, the F6F was equipped to carry bombs as well, allowing pilots to deliver up to 2,000 pounds of bombs on targets. By the time that Hellcat production ended in November 1945, 12,275 examples had rolled off Grumman’s Bethpage, Long Island, assembly line. Through carefully researched photos, many never before published, the history and details of this iconic aircraft are revealed. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

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Developed to provide the US military with a fast-moving reconnaissance vehicle sufficiently armed to knock out WWII-era armored vehicles. The M8 Armored Car and its sibling, the M20 Armored Utility Vehicles, were the most widely used armored vehicles built by Ford. These vehicles saw use with the US Army as well as Allied nations during WWII and well into the 1960s. This book chronicles the development and use of the vehicle from concept to combat. Through dozens of archival photos, many never before published, as well as detailed photographs of some of the finest existent examples of these vehicles, this iconic tank is explored, and its history is explained.

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