The Ampersand Group has informed Armorama about their new releases, three books devoted to U.S. Half-tracks, the M103 Heavy Tank and Six-Ton Trucks.

U.S. Half-tracks: The development and deployment of the U.S. Army’s half-track vehicles
This is the first of The Military Machine series, which will study subjects in-depth with original sources and archival photos.

This volume written by David Doyle is Part one and has 456 pages that cover all aspects of the half-track’s development and use, from early concepts to its deployment across the globe in WWII. Extensive essays describe the M2 Scout Car, M2, M3, M5 and M9 series of vehicles in detail.

The chapter structure of each type covers development, training and combat.

This coverage features hundreds of the U.S. Government “laboratory” photos, as well as photos taken during training in the United States. Combat coverage of all types runs from North Africa, to Italy, to the ETO and the Pacific.

Also included are extensive appendices, featuring detailed technical specifications, registration number data, Military Work Order (MWO) illustrations, TO&E and detailed scale drawings of selected types.

It contains over 850 images, many published here for the very first time.

The other two books are part of the Visual Historuy Series, featuring a historical introduction followed by extensive black-and-white period and walk-around photographs.

M103 Heavy Tank: A Visual History of America’s Only Operational Heavy Tank 1950-1970
Written also by David Doyle, through one hundred and twenty pages it contains over 260 black & white and color images plus scale drawings. Vehicles covered are the T43, T43E1, M103, T43E2, M103A1, M103A2 and M51 Tank Retriever in period and walk around photos.

Six-Ton Trucks: A Visual History of the Army's Most Versatile Heavy Truck 1941-1950
This book is one hundred and twenty pages as well, with more than 260 photos. Apart from the cargo trucks, other interesting variants are featured like the K-56 Radar Van, Bridge Erector, Crane Carrier, Tanker, Fire Truck and the Truck Tractor in period photos. Also includes walk around photos of the Prime Mover, Bridge Erector and Crane Carrier.