In the late 1930s, the U.S. Army began a significant overhaul of its vehicle fleet, which would ultimately shape the logistics backbone of World War II. However, the effort itself was not without conflict: some experts proposed the semitrailer, which separated the supplies or specialist equipment from the engine, while opponents encouraged compact, complete assemblies to save time in the field. Ultimately, both types of trucks would be used during World War II with each playing to their unique strengths. The trucks went to the front lines, while communications and the staging areas were the domain of tractors and semitrailers. This book examines all the different weight categories of tractor trucks and semitrailers used by the U.S.
Army during World War II. Illustrated with hundreds of period photographs, illustrations, and diagrams, the text discusses all variants, including an array of specialized vehicles for Quartermaster, Engineer, Air Force, and Cavalry units. Casemate Illustrated Specials offer unparalleled detail into the weapons, equipment, and machinery of war. Detailed, focused text is accompanied by hundreds of photographs, illustrations, and diagrams, providing a wealth of visual information for the historian, modeler, or researcher.