The Complete Book of Police and Military Motorcycles

The Complete Book of Police and Military Motorcycles

Author: Joseph Berk

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2022-06-20

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781727673340

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This is a reprint of The Complete Book of Police and Military Motorcycles originally published in 2001. From Pittsburgh's adoption of motorcycles for police use in 1909 to General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing's motorized pursuit of Pancho Villa into Mexican territory in 1916 to the deployment of motorcycles in both world wars, this book tells the fascinating tale of these magnificent machines from their 20th century beginnings to their current use by police departments and militaries throughout the world.Joseph Berk explores the history of their manufacture by Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, BMW, and others, from marketing strategy to product evolution. In addition, he gives the reader an exclusive inside look at how specific police departments from Atlanta to Los Angeles determine which make and model to adopt, complete with critiques of the "Big Three" police models used in the United States from officerswho have put them to the test. Berk's detailed look at the intensive 10-day training program LAPD motor officers undergo is a testament to the carefully honed, specialized skills motor officers bring to their work, and lively discussions with individual officers about how they put their machines to work on the streets on a day-to-day basis offer a unique personalized perspective. Completing the picture, Berk examines the use of motorcycles in combat, detailing the specific makes and models used by Special Forces and other military units from World War I through the turn of the century and beyond.


Japan's Motorcycle Wars

Japan's Motorcycle Wars

Author: Jeffrey W. Alexander

Publisher: UBC Press

Published: 2009-01-01

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 0774858443

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For decades the crown jewels of Japan's postwar manufacturing industry, motorcycles remain one of Japan's top exports. Japan's Motorcycle Wars assesses the historical development and societal impact of the motorcycle industry, from the influence of motor sports on vehicle sales in the early 1900s to the postwar developments that led to the massive wave of motorization sweeping the Asia-Pacific region today. Jeffrey Alexander brings a wealth of information to light, providing English translations of transcripts, industry publications, and company histories that have until now been available only in Japanese. By exploring the industry as a whole, he reveals that Japan's motorcycle industry was characterized not by communitarian success but by misplaced loyalties, technical disasters, and brutal competition.


An Illustrated History of Military Motorcycles

An Illustrated History of Military Motorcycles

Author: Pat Ware

Publisher: Southwater

Published: 2012-10

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781780192024

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During the early years of World War I, motorcycles started to enter military service, replacing the mounted despatch rider and providing a means of mechanizing machine-gun and stretcher units. This fully illustrated book covers the lively history of the military motorcycle,highlighting the varied role motorcycles have played, as well as how the vehicles have evolved over time. It provides a country-by-country overview of military motorcycles in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, the USA, the USSR and Japan. An expertly written volume, it provides enthusiasts with key information about the history of these diverse multi-tasking vehicles.


Motorcycles at War

Motorcycles at War

Author: Gavin Birch

Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Published: 2006-09-18

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 1783039124

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Motorbikes were widely used by all sides in WW2 due to their agility, adaptability and speed,. A precious few survive today as rare collectors items.The author, who is the Photo Archivist at the IWM has unearthed images of all the major marques. Famous British names (Triumph, Norton, Matchless, BSA, Velocette, James and Rudge) feature along with the bigger American machines from Indian and Harley-Davidson. German bikes have their own chapter with classics such as NSU, Zundapp and BMW and include hybrid traed motorcycles known as Kettengrad with some shots actually taken by General Erwin Rommel himself.Also covered are rare experimental prototypes photographed during trials and later in combat, the funnies of the wartime biking world such as the Airborne forces Excelsior Welbike (British) and the Cushman parascooter (US).Together this is a unique collection of two-wheeled images.


Two-Wheeled Blitzkrieg

Two-Wheeled Blitzkrieg

Author: Paul Garson

Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited

Published: 2017-11-15

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 1445672375

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Paul Garson explores the fascinating role played by bicycles and motorbikes by the Third Reich with uniquely personal, largely unpublished images.


German Motorcycles at War, 1939–1945

German Motorcycles at War, 1939–1945

Author: Ian Baxter

Publisher: Pen and Sword Military

Published: 2024-12-30

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13: 103610057X

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Explores the crucial role of motorcycles in the Nazi war machine, enhancing mobility and tactical effectiveness during WWII. The success of fast-moving Blitzkrieg tactics by the Nazi war machine depended on high mobility. With their on- and off-road capabilities, motorcycles became an important component of the Nazi war machine’s arsenal making a particularly significant impact in French and Russian campaigns. The motorcycles were used in a variety of roles including patrolling, intelligence gathering, and police duties in occupied Europe. Motorcyclists could be found in every unit of an infantry and Panzer division including headquarters which had a motorcycle messenger platoon. Their versatility also enabled them to survey enemy positions until coming under fire before reporting back with vital intelligence relating to enemy locations and strengths. The German industry produced wide range of motor-bikes for military use. By 1938 some 200,000 motorcycles were produced in Germany and occupied territories. The principal makes included BMW, DKW, NSU, Triumph, Victoria, and Zundapp. Sidecar combinations, often mounted with an MG34/42 machine gun, also made the bike a very effective weapon. By describing in words and contemporary images the role of the German motorcycle and motorcyclists during the Second World War, this Images of War book fills an overlooked gap in coverage of Nazi military capability. It emphasizes that the German military perfected the use of motorcycles and employed them more widely than any other army.


Harley-Davidson WLA

Harley-Davidson WLA

Author: Robert S. Kim

Publisher: Schiffer Military History

Published: 2020-03-28

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780764359248

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The story of an iconic model in the long history of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the WLA, which was used by Allied forces during WWII, is told for the first time. Developed for the US Army's mechanized cavalry, it became the leading US military motorcycle of the war. It served the US armed services as a messenger and military police vehicle. The Red Army's motorcycle battalions, reconnaissance units of its tank armies, also used them as their primary vehicle. The armies of the Soviet Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, China, and Brazil also made use of the model and its variants. It is known today as the "Liberator"; discover the history and stories of individuals who rode this icon to war and why the model is now a favorite among civilian collectors.


German Infantryman Operations Manual

German Infantryman Operations Manual

Author: Simon Forty

Publisher: Haynes Publishing UK

Published: 2018-10-09

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781785211683

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Between 1939 and 1945, close to 13 million men served in the German army - das Heer. The bulk of these men were infantrymen, who slogged their way, mostly on foot, from Finisterre to Moscow, Kirkenes to Tripoli. They swore unlimited obedience to Adolf Hitler and were ready to stake their lives for this oath: over 1.6 million men of das Heer were killed during the war and over 4.1 million were wounded.