Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Aristus

(66,096 posts)
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 01:48 PM Jan 2019

Are there any good books out there about American WWII maintenance depots?

Sounds like a silly topic to ask about or to be interested in. But I'd like to read further about the guys who kept the Allies rolling after the D-Day invasion.

When an Allied tank, truck, jeep, or self-propelled artillery piece was hit or disabled, it was usually very quickly replaced from newly-manufactured stock, and the soldiers kept on going. The natural assumption is that American heavy industry produced so much materiel that combat losses were always replaced with new equipment.

But I've read brief accounts in several books on WWII about how hundreds of unsung soldier-mechanics came along after the battles and towed away wrecked machinery, took it to a maintenance and repair depot, and put the vehicles back into service. Or cannibalized total losses for parts. I'd love to read about how these depots were planned, organized, set up, and operated. They were marvels of military conservation.

When tanks or trucks operated by Soviet soldiers broke down, they would be abandoned, and the troops would just carry on until they got new ones. The young boys from backward peasant upbringings had no knowledge of how to maintain their vehicles. Many American boys, OTOH, having grown up with farm tractors or tinkering with private automobiles, knew how to keep their beasts in running condition.

Anyway, any suggestions?

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Are there any good books out there about American WWII maintenance depots? (Original Post) Aristus Jan 2019 OP
US Army has a great history series Lithos Jan 2019 #1
Thanks! Aristus Jan 2019 #2
I have the complete series in hard copy. GP6971 Jan 2019 #4
Belton Cooper's "Deathtraps" is not the most accurate book on Shermans Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #3
This is an excellent book. DashOneBravo Jan 2019 #5

GP6971

(31,017 posts)
4. I have the complete series in hard copy.
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 09:12 PM
Jan 2019

Accumulated them over the years and plan to put my feet up and enjoy in my recent retirement.

Pope George Ringo II

(1,896 posts)
3. Belton Cooper's "Deathtraps" is not the most accurate book on Shermans
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 02:30 PM
Jan 2019

I disagree--strongly--with his conclusions on the tank, but it is the memoir of a recovery specialist.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Veterans»Are there any good books ...