Technology of WW2
Technology of WW2 is an ongoing series by Nelson McKeeby that looks at the Second World War through the machines that had to be designed, built, and fielded under intense pressure. Each volume focuses on a specific slice of wartime engineering and production, combining narrative history with clear technical explanation and carefully chosen photographs.
United States Tank Development in WW2
United States Tank Development in WW2 follows American armoured design from the aftermath of the First World War to the close of 1945. The book traces how inter-war experiments, doctrine debates, and industrial constraints shaped the tanks that finally went to war, from early light tanks to the many variants of the M4 Sherman and its successors.
Rather than treating tanks as isolated machines, the volume looks at how the U.S. Army, industry, and Congress argued over requirements: firepower versus mobility, armour versus weight, and the constant need to ship vehicles across oceans and operate them in widely different climates. Production tables, factory notes, and period photographs help show why certain designs were accepted, why others stalled at the prototype stage, and how these choices affected the battlefield.
This book anchors the Technology of WW2 line. Forthcoming volumes will cover German tank development, British and Commonwealth armour, U.S. mechanised transport, and other key branches of wartime technology, giving readers a coherent framework for understanding how the Allied and Axis powers tried to turn engineering into victory.
Where to Find the Book
United States Tank Development in WW2 is available in print and digital formats through major online booksellers. Readers looking for a structured overview of U.S. tank design, with enough technical depth to support research and wargame design, will find this volume a starting point for the rest of the series.