The Half-Track in Canadian Service
by Bill Inglee.
Canada's Weapons of War Series, WOW003
A5 size softback, 24 pages
Service Publications,
Canada
www.servicepub.com

Review by Peter Brown

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This booklet is in the same series as the earlier coverage of the Sherman tank in Canada, and sheds new light on the American halftracks outside American service. While there several books in print on the vehicles themselves, their use outside the US Army is not well covered which makes this book a very useful addition to the modeller and vehicle enthusiast's bookshelf. It begins with pre-war halftrack but mainly deals with the armoured types supplied by the USA.

Their development of these used is briefly described, most were the Lend-Lease International Harvester M5 and M9 series troop carrier vehicles with M14 anti-aircraft versions which were converted to troop carriers, plus a few M3 75mm gun carriers. The account rounds off with ex-US Army M3 vehicles used in Korea. The differences between the various types are pointed out, all backed up by a good selection of black and white photos of all types, some factory fresh with others in action showing various additions which will be useful to modellers.

A set of four side view scale drawings depict typical markings, these are in monochrome which means the orginal colours appear as various shades of grey though they can easily be identified. Also useful are details of how halftracks were used, including numbers of vehicles used in different formations. This is of course specific to Canadian service, though it is broadly typical of British and other Commonwealth use.

Thanks to Clive Law at Service Publications for the review book.