M551 Sheridan: US Airmobile Tanks 1941-2001 (New Vanguard, #153)

One of the weaknesses of airmobile forces has always been their vulnerability to enemy armor. Since the 1940s, there have been numerous schemes to field light tanks that could be deployed by parachute or other methods to reinforce paratroopers and other airmobile forces. This book tells the story of the US experience with airmobile tanks, starting with efforts in World War II, notably the M22 Locust airmobile tank. Although not used in combat by the US Army, it was used during Operation Varsity in 1945 by British airborne forces and ended up supporting US paratroopers during this mission on the Rhine river. The book then turns to post-war efforts such as the unique T-92 airborne tank, designed for paratroop drop. The only airborne tank actually manufactured in significant numbers was the M551 Sheridan. The history of this tank provides the focal point of this book, highlighting the difficulties of combining heavy firepower in a chassis light enough for airborne delivery. The book examines its controversial combat debut in Vietnam, and its subsequent combat history in Panama and Operation Desert Storm . It also rounds out the story by examining attempts to replace the Sheridan with other armored vehicles, such as the short-lived M8 MGS and Army LAV programs. ALSO AVAILABLE TO BUY AS AN E-BOOK. Since the advent of airmobile warfare, there have been numerous attempts to support paratroopers with attached armored vehicles. This book tells the story of the US experience with air-mobile tanks, starting with their efforts in World War II. However, full success was not achieved until the production of the M551 Sheridan. The history of this tank provides the focal point of this book, highlighting the difficulties of combining heavy firepower in a chassis light enough for airborne delivery. The book examines its controversial debut in Vietnam, and its subsequent combat history in Panama and Operation Desert Storm. It rounds out the story by examining the failed attempts to replace the Sheridan with other armored vehicles. AIRBORNE ARMOR......Page 5 COLD WAR AIRBORNE TANKS......Page 13 THE M551 SHERIDAN......Page 17 AIRBORNE OPERATIONS......Page 39 THE ELUSIVE QUEST FOR PERFECTION......Page 45 FURTHER READING......Page 48 INDEX......Page 49 Denne bog fortæller historien om de amerikanske erfaringer med luftmobile tanks, begyndende med indsatsen i Anden Verdenskrig til til efterkrigstidens indsats såsom den unikke T- 92 luftbårne tank INTRODUCTION 5 AIRBORNE ARMOR 5 COLD WAR AIRBORNE TANKS 13 THE M551 SHERIDAN 17 AIRBORNE OPERATIONS 39 THE ELUSIVE QUEST FOR PERFECTION 45 FURTHER READING 48 INDEX 49