Osprey New Vanguard 18 : M2/M3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle 1983-1995

One of the most sophisticated armoured fighting vehicles in the world, the M2/M3 Bradley is the United States equivalent of the British Warrior, combining the role of personnel carrier with the formidable armament of a 25mm cannon and TOW anti-tank missiles. With a maximum road speed of 66kmh it also has a degree of manoeuvrability dreamed of by other armoured vehicles. Steven Zaloga examines this weapon in detail. He looks at the changing tactical requirements of the US Army for an armoured personnel carrier and investigates the effect that the conflict in Vietnam had on both this tactical doctrine and infantry-carrying vehicle specifications. A detailed analysis of the different variants of the Bradley is given as is an in-depth study of the vehicle's controls, armour and firepower. Comparison is made with the German Marder and Soviet BMP, two of the world's other leading infantry combat vehicles. The Bradley's use in Operation 'Desert Storm' is also evaluated, and its by and large excellent performance explained. Finally, the book looks at some of the interesting and lethal spin-offs from the Bradley, including the M270 MLRS multiple launch rocket system and the Bradley FIST. An excellent and extremely comprehensive book by a clearly knowledgeable author. Illustrations by Peter Sarson.

Contents

• Design and Development
• The Vietnam Detour
• Bradley Development Begins
• The Bradley Compared
• Modernisation
• Performance in 'Desert Storm'
• Variants