Unlike many European countries prior to WWII, the United States did not have much in the way of armored units or a good plan on how to use them. There was a lot of debate on the subject and it was felt that tanks were really not worth the effort. The Cavalry was still considered to be a major player and the most they wanted were anti-tank guns to take care of any enemy armored units.

Eventually it was realized that tanks were going to be needed so an effort was made to produce light and medium tanks. Still, there was no consensus on how to use them. Some wanted them as mobile artillery, others as part of an infantry unit and others wanted to use them by themselves.

The German Blitzkrieg of 1939 and later 1940 showed that tanks were an important part of the overall picture and it was as much the German use of them en masse that helped to determine US armor policy. Unfortunately, by the time the US got into the war in North Africa, the Germans had realized that it was better to incorporate armor in with infantry and so the US suffered some rather disastrous defeats at German hands in the early battles.

Steven J. Zaloga takes us through the stages of American armor use in the Mediterranean theater. This book on Battle Orders has a look at the early history and unit organization of the American armored divisions. It also goes into some detail on the equipment used, the tactics and how they changed with experience. There is also quite a bit on the initial hope that tank destroyer units would be their 'ace in the hole' and how their initial failures were so traumatic that command lost all faith in their abilities. This was such that often commanders would not use them in battle at all but relegated them to mobile artillery.

All of the major battles are covered including Sicily, Anzio and operations in Northern Italy. The Normandy invasion stripped a majority of units from the Italian campaign and basically relegated it to a backwater for the last year of the war.

The book is superbly illustrated with charts, diagrams, maps and quality period photographs.

Overall, an outstanding look at American armor tactics and strategy; especially as operational use changed the way armor was used. A book that anyone interested in WWII, armor or just looking for a fine read will want on their shelves.

October 2006

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