Armoured Vehicles of the Iraq War
Armoured Vehicles of the Iraq War
More than a decade after the end of the Gulf War, the US, supported by the UK, invaded Iraq, rationalising this decision on the inaccurate belief that the government of Saddam Hussein was amassing weapons of mass destruction.
In his obstruction of UN weapons inspectors, Saddam became the target of the US’s War on Terror.
In 2003, the invasion began with vast numbers of US tanks travelling at speed from Kuwait.
The strategy of ‘shock and awe’ was intended to surprise the Iraqi government, offering it little time for preparation and retaliation.
Though Baghdad fell within three weeks, there followed a protracted peace-keeping mission amid a counterinsurgency, keeping US and Coalition forces in the country until 2011.
Included in this volume is a round-up of the main battle tanks and artillery used by all sides.
A growing number of nations later offered armour as part of the peace-keeping mission and employed them against insurgents.
The specification for each military vehicle is included, with an analysis of its power, speed and the key battles in which it played a part.
Alongside is an examination of the political and military decision-making that led to the invasion, and the lasting legacy for the region and international relations.
Available: April 30th 2025
ISBN: 978 1 80282 870 2
Price: £16.99
Author: Finley Reynolds
Series: Military Vehicles and Artillery Series Vol 10
Format: Paperback, 128 pages