Vehicules de Combat Francais 'Ajourd 'Hui - Yves Debay Histoire & Collections
Excellent book!
Entirely in French but with lots of photos. Well worth a look.
“The King’s Last Argument.” This was the motto engraved on the bronze of the muzzles of the kings of France. Fundamentally, nothing has changed and, in the era of the revolutionary Leclerc tank and its "pilot fish" the agile VBL Panhard, the same motto could be applied to the military equipment of the French Republic. This new work by Yves Debay, major reporter for the monthly Raids and specialist in modern armed forces, offers a complete overview of the combat vehicles of the French army at the turn of the millennium. Alongside armored vehicles which constitute the bulk of the subject, the work also includes unarmored battlefield vehicles and heavy and light weaponry. The large units are also presented there in order to situate the equipment in their tactical employment context. French combat vehicles of today is a visual testimony of the machines which, from the plains of Champagne to the sands of the Gulf, or from the Bosnian mountains to the African savannah, are the everyday companions of our soldiers. Whether they are hired, called up or volunteers, they serve France aboard their VAB, VBL, AML. Sagaie and the entire famous AMX family, from the "13 ton" recently withdrawn from service to the Leclerc, the first battle tank of the third generation, a unique piece of equipment in the world. With the third millennium and the commissioning of the Leclerc tank, but also the Panhard LAV and soon the future multi-wheeled armored combat vehicle, the Army is entering a new era where the most advanced technologies are at the service of motivated professional soldiers. On their materials could be engraved these words: “France’s last argument”.
176 page hardcover published 1998
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