Military Model Scene

Title: Afghan Wheels and Tracks
Author: Craig Allen
Publisher: Key Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-80282-470-4

UK and US Vehicles, vol 6 in the Military Vehicles and Artillery series from Key Publishing, distributed by Pen & Sword. A 96-page soft-cover book.
As the title suggests, this new book gives a good overview of the many different types of military vehicles used by both the UK and US Military during their deployments to Afghanistan. The British section covers Protected Patrol Vehicles, such as the WMIK and Snatch Land Rovers along with the Jackal 1 & 2, Foxhound, Mastiff, Ridgeback and less well known I think, the Vector, an armoured 6x6 variant of the Pinzgauer. Then add Tactical Support Vehicles such as Yamaha Quad Bike, Husky, Coyote and more. Even more variety with Specialist and then Logistics vehicles. Moving on to US vehicles, it starts with Light vehicles, such as the Ford Ranger pick-up, including militarised versions, the Humvee of course, and then the various types of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected). Some of these were badly damaged by mines, but the crews survived, as designed. These were a new type of vehicle designed for the circumstances of the war against the Taliban, and produced in response to UOR (Urgent Operational Requirement). Some older equipment such as the M113, and the M1117 Guardian, an armoured car based on the same design as the V100 Commando used in Vietnam.
Each entry has some background text on the design and use of the individual vehicles, along with a table listing basic specifications. Add a lot of colour photos illustrating the text and this is a very useful reference, maybe for veterans who served their tours in theatre, historians and modellers alike. Lots to like in here for a good value little book.
Thanks to Pen & Sword for this review copy.

Robin