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Armored Cav
A penetrating look inside an armored cavalry regiment -- the technology, the strategies, and the people . . . profiled by Tom Clancy.
His first non-fiction book, Submarine, captured the reality of life aboard a nuclear warship. Now, the #1 bestselling author of Clear and Present Danger and Without Remorse portrays today's military as only army personnel can know it.
With the same compelling, you-are-there immediacy of his acclaimed fiction, Tom Clancy provides detailed descriptions of tanks, helicopters, artillery, and more -- the brilliant technology behind the U. S. Army. He captures military life -- from the drama of combat to the daily routine -- with total accuracy, and reveals the roles and missions that have in recent years distinguished our fighting forces.
Armored Cav includes:
Descriptions of the M1A2 Main Battle Tank, the AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopter, and more
An interview with General Frederick Franks
Strategies behind the Desert Storm account
Exclusive photograph, illustrations and diagrams
PLUS: From West Point cadet to Desert Storm commander . . . an interview with a combat cavalry officer on the rise.
His first non-fiction book, Submarine, captured the reality of life aboard a nuclear warship. Now, the #1 bestselling author of Clear and Present Danger and Without Remorse portrays today's military as only army personnel can know it.
With the same compelling, you-are-there immediacy of his acclaimed fiction, Tom Clancy provides detailed descriptions of tanks, helicopters, artillery, and more -- the brilliant technology behind the U. S. Army. He captures military life -- from the drama of combat to the daily routine -- with total accuracy, and reveals the roles and missions that have in recent years distinguished our fighting forces.
Armored Cav includes:
Descriptions of the M1A2 Main Battle Tank, the AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopter, and more
An interview with General Frederick Franks
Strategies behind the Desert Storm account
Exclusive photograph, illustrations and diagrams
PLUS: From West Point cadet to Desert Storm commander . . . an interview with a combat cavalry officer on the rise.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 1994
64 people are currently reading
830 people want to read
About the author
Tom Clancy
977 books9,073 followersThomas Leo Clancy Jr. was an American novelist and military-political thriller pioneer. Raised in a middle-class Irish-American family, he developed an early fascination with military history. Despite initially studying physics at Loyola College, he switched to English literature, graduating in 1969 with a modest GPA. His aspirations of serving in the military were dashed due to severe myopia, leading him instead to a career in the insurance business.
While working at a small insurance agency, Clancy spent his spare time writing what would become The Hunt for Red October (1984). Published by the Naval Institute Press for an advance of $5,000, the book received an unexpected boost when President Ronald Reagan praised it as “the best yarn.” This propelled Clancy to national fame, selling millions of copies and establishing his reputation for technical accuracy in military and intelligence matters. His meticulous research and storytelling ability granted him access to high-ranking U.S. military officials, further enriching his novels.
Clancy’s works often featured heroic protagonists such as Jack Ryan and John Clark, emphasizing themes of patriotism, military expertise, and political intrigue. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he became one of the best-selling authors in America, with titles like Red Storm Rising (1986), Patriot Games (1987), Clear and Present Danger (1989), and The Sum of All Fears (1991) dominating bestseller lists. Several of these were adapted into commercially successful films.
In addition to novels, Clancy co-authored nonfiction works on military topics and lent his name to numerous book series and video game franchises, including Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. His influence extended beyond literature, as he became a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and was involved in various business ventures, including a failed attempt to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.
Politically, Clancy was a staunch conservative, often weaving his views into his books and publicly criticizing left-leaning policies. He gained further attention after the September 11 attacks, discussing intelligence failures and counterterrorism strategies on news platforms.
Clancy’s financial success was immense. By the late 1990s, his publishing deals were worth tens of millions of dollars. He lived on an expansive Maryland estate featuring a World War II Sherman tank and later purchased a luxury penthouse in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
He was married twice, first to Wanda Thomas King, with whom he had four children, and later to journalist Alexandra Marie Llewellyn, with whom he had one daughter.
Tom Clancy passed away on October 1, 2013, at the age of 66 due to heart failure. His legacy endures through his novels, their adaptations, and the continuation of the Jack Ryan series by other writers.
While working at a small insurance agency, Clancy spent his spare time writing what would become The Hunt for Red October (1984). Published by the Naval Institute Press for an advance of $5,000, the book received an unexpected boost when President Ronald Reagan praised it as “the best yarn.” This propelled Clancy to national fame, selling millions of copies and establishing his reputation for technical accuracy in military and intelligence matters. His meticulous research and storytelling ability granted him access to high-ranking U.S. military officials, further enriching his novels.
Clancy’s works often featured heroic protagonists such as Jack Ryan and John Clark, emphasizing themes of patriotism, military expertise, and political intrigue. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he became one of the best-selling authors in America, with titles like Red Storm Rising (1986), Patriot Games (1987), Clear and Present Danger (1989), and The Sum of All Fears (1991) dominating bestseller lists. Several of these were adapted into commercially successful films.
In addition to novels, Clancy co-authored nonfiction works on military topics and lent his name to numerous book series and video game franchises, including Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. His influence extended beyond literature, as he became a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and was involved in various business ventures, including a failed attempt to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.
Politically, Clancy was a staunch conservative, often weaving his views into his books and publicly criticizing left-leaning policies. He gained further attention after the September 11 attacks, discussing intelligence failures and counterterrorism strategies on news platforms.
Clancy’s financial success was immense. By the late 1990s, his publishing deals were worth tens of millions of dollars. He lived on an expansive Maryland estate featuring a World War II Sherman tank and later purchased a luxury penthouse in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
He was married twice, first to Wanda Thomas King, with whom he had four children, and later to journalist Alexandra Marie Llewellyn, with whom he had one daughter.
Tom Clancy passed away on October 1, 2013, at the age of 66 due to heart failure. His legacy endures through his novels, their adaptations, and the continuation of the Jack Ryan series by other writers.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 1, 2012
I really like the story about how a disabled M1-A1 was left behind fought an Iraqi tank and was able to leave under its own power.
January 25, 2020
brief synopsis:
Tom Clancy takes us by the hand for a tour of the US Army's Armored Cavalry Regiment.
setting:
named personalities:
John Ford - an American film director who made so many great movies about the glorious horse-soldiers
Tom Clancy - the author
Edward III - king of England
Wanda - Tom's wife
Creighton Abrams - the Army Chief of Staff after Vietnam
Colin Powell - a man who had overcome the racism of an Army struggling to master the hard lessons of integration
Butch Funk - an armor officer
Pete Taylor - an infantry officer
Barry McCaffrey - a guy who left bones and limbs on the killing fields of Southeast Asia
Frederick 'Fred' Franks - ditto
Denise - Fred's wife
Margie - Fred's daughter
Douglas 'Tin Legs' Bader - a famous RAF fighter ace
'Red' Reeder - an assistant baseball coach at West Point
Paul Brickhill - Reach for the Sky author
Gorbachev - presumably Mikhail Gorbachev
Saddam Hussein - an Iraqi president
George Bush - an American president
There should be a ton more but the copy I have makes note-taking a pain if I am to progress, too.
typos
p249: The Army selected a pair of contractors, Bell Helicopter-Textron of Forth Worth, Texas (the maker of the classic AH-1 Cobra), with their YAH-63 design, and Hughes Helicopter of Culver City, California, and Mesa, Arizona, with their YAH-64, to build prototypes for a competitive "fly-off."
p205: (According to many returning Desert Storm veterans, combat in the Iraqi and Kuwaiti desert was just like it was at NTC, except that the Iraqis weren't as good sas OPFOR!)
duh
p130: As the Texas sun set in the west, Sandy and I headed out to our Apache; and I climbed into the gunner's position and buckled up.
Plus a few that can only be ocrs.
Regretfully, this does not give one the war fix one wants.
The 1999 Uganda incident (I can't find any additional information regarding this) is a nice crowning demonstration, at least.
The copy I have is a head-shaker, where the interview portions and glossary were never transcribed but presented as pictures.
Tom Clancy takes us by the hand for a tour of the US Army's Armored Cavalry Regiment.
setting:
named personalities:
John Ford - an American film director who made so many great movies about the glorious horse-soldiers
Tom Clancy - the author
Edward III - king of England
Wanda - Tom's wife
Creighton Abrams - the Army Chief of Staff after Vietnam
Colin Powell - a man who had overcome the racism of an Army struggling to master the hard lessons of integration
Butch Funk - an armor officer
Pete Taylor - an infantry officer
Barry McCaffrey - a guy who left bones and limbs on the killing fields of Southeast Asia
Frederick 'Fred' Franks - ditto
Denise - Fred's wife
Margie - Fred's daughter
Douglas 'Tin Legs' Bader - a famous RAF fighter ace
'Red' Reeder - an assistant baseball coach at West Point
Paul Brickhill - Reach for the Sky author
Gorbachev - presumably Mikhail Gorbachev
Saddam Hussein - an Iraqi president
George Bush - an American president
There should be a ton more but the copy I have makes note-taking a pain if I am to progress, too.
typos
p249: The Army selected a pair of contractors, Bell Helicopter-Textron of Forth Worth, Texas (the maker of the classic AH-1 Cobra), with their YAH-63 design, and Hughes Helicopter of Culver City, California, and Mesa, Arizona, with their YAH-64, to build prototypes for a competitive "fly-off."
p205: (According to many returning Desert Storm veterans, combat in the Iraqi and Kuwaiti desert was just like it was at NTC, except that the Iraqis weren't as good sas OPFOR!)
duh
p130: As the Texas sun set in the west, Sandy and I headed out to our Apache; and I climbed into the gunner's position and buckled up.
Plus a few that can only be ocrs.
Regretfully, this does not give one the war fix one wants.
The 1999 Uganda incident (I can't find any additional information regarding this) is a nice crowning demonstration, at least.
The copy I have is a head-shaker, where the interview portions and glossary were never transcribed but presented as pictures.
September 23, 2015
Good insights into the structure, command and weapons of an armoured ground unit. Sadly this fighting style seems to have lost favour w/ the US Army, a mistake I feel. Regardless, anyone interested in weapons and tactics will enjoy this well-researched tome.
March 26, 2019
“Armored Cav: A Guided Tour of an Armored Cavalry Regiment” is Tom Clancy’s enthusiastic but also very technocratic description of an integrated armored cavalry unit as of 1994 and thus is not already military history but a kind of reminiscence to a gone military structure.
The author’s objective with this book is to provide an insight into an Armored Cavalry Regiment to the average reader without any military background. Although he does in a fluid and accessible way he goes into much detail more of interest to actual enthusiasts or military professionals. He already starts this in the introduction by explaining armor and anti-tank weapons in much technical detail. Although important and interesting the average reader should at least be provided more of an introduction before the details. In a knee jerking twist from explosive formed penetrators the next chapter is long interview with General Fred Franks on his experiences in his decades of service with the Armored Cav and the conduct of the Gulf War. This again is a very interesting oral history of military developments and cuts without any explanation to a lengthy description of ground combat systems.
Overeager to praise and find awesomeness in every corner Clancy describes the M1A1, M2/M3, M113, their equipment, weapons, radios and all the other support and supply vehicles an Army unit employs in much detail. He really is in his element here and provides a vivid description military enthusiasts will read with joy, average readers with wonder and professionals with annoyance as no shortfalls are mentioned and the tactical employment of the different systems is left out. As Armored Cavalry Regiments used to have organic artillery and helicopter units the next two chapters are devoted to detailed descriptions of howitzers, artillery rockets, attack, reconnaissance and transport helicopters and everything is of course the best equipment there is. Again the reader gets a vivid description of the different systems with very good drawings for visualization. But there still is some hardware left uncovered and that is why the reader is next presented with all the equipment the individual soldiers are using from rifles to GPS receivers, which at the time were not as universally known as today.
After more than 250 pages the guided tour of the equipment park finally leads the reader to the organization of the Armored Cavalry Regiment. Although the organization table is spread out in detail and supported by many visual charts the author seems to focus completely on the allocation of equipment and neither goes into capabilities nor tasks or tactics of the different components. Instead of describing the cooperation and operation of the unit further the next chapter describes the training and preparation for a combined combat exercise at the National Training Center, which again is interesting to read but does not provide the information to understand the tactical capabilities of the unit. Although an example of the tactical capability is provided with an interview with H.R. McMaster on the Battle of 73 Easting during the Gulf War, this again is provided without much integration into the wider book. The final chapters include a fictional scenario in which an Armored Cavalry Regiment might be used and a short epilogue on future developments.
Although the book provides much interesting and useful information on the equipment and the unit at the time, it is neither integrated into a systematic treatise nor is it in any form analytical or critical. The reader is indeed on a guided tour of military equipment with an over enthusiastic tour guide providing hardly any tactical information.
Therefore this outdated book on a military organization not existing anymore and equipment mostly upgraded by now might still be of interest for military enthusiasts but holds small value for the information of average readers for whom it had been designed in the first place.
The author’s objective with this book is to provide an insight into an Armored Cavalry Regiment to the average reader without any military background. Although he does in a fluid and accessible way he goes into much detail more of interest to actual enthusiasts or military professionals. He already starts this in the introduction by explaining armor and anti-tank weapons in much technical detail. Although important and interesting the average reader should at least be provided more of an introduction before the details. In a knee jerking twist from explosive formed penetrators the next chapter is long interview with General Fred Franks on his experiences in his decades of service with the Armored Cav and the conduct of the Gulf War. This again is a very interesting oral history of military developments and cuts without any explanation to a lengthy description of ground combat systems.
Overeager to praise and find awesomeness in every corner Clancy describes the M1A1, M2/M3, M113, their equipment, weapons, radios and all the other support and supply vehicles an Army unit employs in much detail. He really is in his element here and provides a vivid description military enthusiasts will read with joy, average readers with wonder and professionals with annoyance as no shortfalls are mentioned and the tactical employment of the different systems is left out. As Armored Cavalry Regiments used to have organic artillery and helicopter units the next two chapters are devoted to detailed descriptions of howitzers, artillery rockets, attack, reconnaissance and transport helicopters and everything is of course the best equipment there is. Again the reader gets a vivid description of the different systems with very good drawings for visualization. But there still is some hardware left uncovered and that is why the reader is next presented with all the equipment the individual soldiers are using from rifles to GPS receivers, which at the time were not as universally known as today.
After more than 250 pages the guided tour of the equipment park finally leads the reader to the organization of the Armored Cavalry Regiment. Although the organization table is spread out in detail and supported by many visual charts the author seems to focus completely on the allocation of equipment and neither goes into capabilities nor tasks or tactics of the different components. Instead of describing the cooperation and operation of the unit further the next chapter describes the training and preparation for a combined combat exercise at the National Training Center, which again is interesting to read but does not provide the information to understand the tactical capabilities of the unit. Although an example of the tactical capability is provided with an interview with H.R. McMaster on the Battle of 73 Easting during the Gulf War, this again is provided without much integration into the wider book. The final chapters include a fictional scenario in which an Armored Cavalry Regiment might be used and a short epilogue on future developments.
Although the book provides much interesting and useful information on the equipment and the unit at the time, it is neither integrated into a systematic treatise nor is it in any form analytical or critical. The reader is indeed on a guided tour of military equipment with an over enthusiastic tour guide providing hardly any tactical information.
Therefore this outdated book on a military organization not existing anymore and equipment mostly upgraded by now might still be of interest for military enthusiasts but holds small value for the information of average readers for whom it had been designed in the first place.
March 27, 2018
This book was written in the 1990's so some of the information about vehicles being used is now outdated. However, the concepts and the human elements are wonderfully presented in a clean and concise narrative.
If you enjoy military history, this is a must-read book.
If you enjoy military history, this is a must-read book.
April 16, 2018
This should be read in conjunction with Into the Storm>, Tom Clancy's interview with General Fred Franks. The famous "left hook" was led by the 2nd ACR. You should also watch the History Channel's Greatest Tank Battles>' season 1 episode 1 - the Battle of 73 Easting.
March 19, 2017
Includes an interview with then Captain, now General H. R. McMaster, and the battle of 73 Easting during the First Gulf War.
October 16, 2019
In-depth descriptions helpful in understanding details of Army operation. Written in mid-90's, so some information is dated. Some systems that Clancy raves about were eventually cancelled. Insightful interviews with Fred Franks and H.R. McMaster. Section on armor composition hard to grasp unless your have a degree in metallurgy.
August 19, 2012
I have a soft spot for Tom Clancy, despite the horrible horrible politics, because he's the reason I'm a communist.
Barring the hagiographical tome (as ever in Tom Clancy, the US can do no wrong, except this is even more so), this is a pretty good overview of what US armoured cavalry units do, in the typical technocratic style that is adopted by military fans. It's strange that no-one ever mentions that, chances are, the grid square an MLRS can remove (a la its nickname) is unlikely to be empty of civilians, especially in the Korea of one of the book's fictional future wars (and fictionalised ad for armoured cavalry and increased military spending.) But hey, military operations only ever hurt the bad guys, unless the bad guys are doing them...
Barring the hagiographical tome (as ever in Tom Clancy, the US can do no wrong, except this is even more so), this is a pretty good overview of what US armoured cavalry units do, in the typical technocratic style that is adopted by military fans. It's strange that no-one ever mentions that, chances are, the grid square an MLRS can remove (a la its nickname) is unlikely to be empty of civilians, especially in the Korea of one of the book's fictional future wars (and fictionalised ad for armoured cavalry and increased military spending.) But hey, military operations only ever hurt the bad guys, unless the bad guys are doing them...
December 25, 2014
Armored Cavalry Regiments have gone the way of dinosaurs not a couple years ago. With its passing, we've lost an unmatched capability the world has never seen and will probably not see ever again: the absolute ability to fight for information. No reconnaissance organization is capable of it in the way an ACR could. Clancy, in his usual style as with his other nonfiction books, fully marries his subject matter to produce detail you'd normally only find in a textbook. It's a time capsule. For its dated reference (including a great back-and-forth interview) it deserves to be treasured for what it is: am in depth look at the world when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
February 20, 2016
Factual mini tome on the innerworkings and characteristics of the armor branch of the US Army. The book was written in 1994 so it's a bit dated, but it certainly doesn't feel dated. Did you know the military has the ability to limit GPS at a given notice? This book is filled with all sorts of similiar information. What I found most interesting was Tom Clancy's personal anecdotes about what it was like to take a ride in a Humvee in the middle of the night, or flying and zipping around in an attack helicopter.
August 20, 2024
This book is not what most readers would expect from Tom Clancy. It is very slow going, although it is very thorough. I much preferred his other factual book regarding Tomic powered nuclear submarines. This book was very slow going, and would be interesting. I’m sure to somebody who is better read and more knowledgable of the US military structure than I am.
October 3, 2007
Another nonfiction work that looks at the inner workings of another part of the armed forces, this time the armored cavalry.
Like all the others he has done in this vein, the book is well researched and written in a style that's easy to deal with.
Like all the others he has done in this vein, the book is well researched and written in a style that's easy to deal with.
January 18, 2017
This is my second time reading this book. Although very outdated now, it is still a good read for those unfamilier with the way the military works.
Its a good history lesson on the first Iraq war with interviews with Gen. Fred Franks and D.L. McMaster.
Its a good history lesson on the first Iraq war with interviews with Gen. Fred Franks and D.L. McMaster.
March 8, 2007
Learned all about tanks.
Amazing what the government de-classifies.
Amazing what the government de-classifies.
January 18, 2016
another in the list of clancy's series on the US military.
January 2, 2013
As my Father served in the 2nd armored cav in Germany, I thought I'd enjoy this book more. About half of it was readable. Most of it was almost unreadable.
June 30, 2013
If you've ever watched someone masturbate before, it's kind of like that, except about the US military and in book form.
January 22, 2015
Boring, boring, boring.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
August 8, 2011
Not for me
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews