U.S.Army Ambulances & Medical Vehicles In World War II
By Jacob Russell
Author: Didier Andres
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 978-61200-865-3
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 160
Evacuating wounded soldiers from the front lines is one of the military support infrastructure's most critical tasks. The ambulance is one of the most important elements of that structure. If you'd like to learn more about the history of United States Army ambulances during World War II Casemate Publishers has the book for you.
In this new book author Didier Andres traces the development of the U.S. Army ambulance, from its origins in 1937 Quartermaster Corps discussions about purpose-built ambulance to meet the Army's future needs. Andres devotes 14 chapters to the vehicle's evolution from the Metropolitan ambulances used nationwide by general hospitals and the multi patient ambulances unique to the U.S. Army, created by the Linn Coach & Truck Company. Meant for use as a a large-scale transport, the multi patient ambulance was a 1 ½ ton 4x2 vehicle capable of transporting either 12 wounded on mobile stretchers or 16 mobile patients.
After the United States entered the War the armed forces fought in several theatres of war at the same time, necessitating many different ambulance designs to suit each theatre's unique environment. The book discusses these designs in great detail, including Field Litter Carriers, Medic Jeeps, Field Ambulances, Front-Line Ambulances, etc. The latter category included such oddities as the amphibious M-29-C Weasel, which was the only World War II vehicle meant and designed for adaption for multiple roles.
The 4x4 Jeep was one of the U.S. military's most indispensable, versatile and adaptable vehicles and about the only motorized vehicle present in every single unit. The Jeep was readily adaptable to the Medic Jeep role and some variants could accommodate up to six wounded on liters.
The book is well illustrated with many pre-War and Wartime photographs, some of them in color.
U.S. Army ambulance and medical vehicles were useful, versatile and adaptable vehicles which underwent numerous design permutations throughout War World War II. This is a useful book for fans of World War II support vehicles.
I recommend this book and I would like to thank Casemate Publishers for the review sample.