US Army Handbook, 1939-1945

The building of the American Army in World War II from a tiny, outdated and ill-equipped force into one of the mightiest armies of the world was rightly described by Sir Winston Churchill as being a "prodigy of organization". Its value to the Allied cause was immeasurable and it had a fine fighting record all over the world. The US Army was marvellously well-equipped, thanks to American inventiveness, "know-how" and technological prowess, and by 1945 it led the world in weaponry, strategic mobility and logistic capabilities. This study details the organization, structure and equipment of the US Army - everything from weapons to tactics, marking to camouflage and rations to radio sets. Detailed appendices also cover military symbology, field orders and sample battle orders. Fully illustrated with a varied selection of action photographs, this is a useful reference guide to the world's greatest army during World War II.