Author Description

Anthony Tucker-Jones's photographic history is a fascinating visual introduction to the armored battles of the Second World War in the Far East and Asia-Pacific regions, from 1937 to 1945. In contrast to the experience of the armies that fought in Europe and North Africa, in the Far East tanks remained an infantry support weapon, and their role is often neglected in histories of the conflict. Japanese armor confronted tanks deployed by the Chinese, Russians, British and Americans. Early in the war, against Chinese forces which lacked armor, the Japanese had some success, but their light and medium tanks were no match for their Allied counterparts. Later Japanese designs were better armed, but they were built in such small numbers that they could do little to stem the Allied advance. The role of armored vehicles in each theater of the war in the Far East is shown in a selection of over 150 rare wartime photographs that record armor in action in China, Manchuria, Mongolia, Malaya, Burma and during the battles fought for the Pacific islands.