Modern special operation forces made their first appearance during the Second World War and have been involved in every major and many minor conflicts since. The current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with wide open spaces and heavily armed insurgents, have seen the employment of a large variety of special operations patrol vehicles. These vehicles allow the special operators to cover long distances rapidly while carrying the weapons necessary to confront a wide range of targets.

This book, number 179 in the New Vanguard series published by Osprey Publishing, describes the development and employment of special operation vehicles utilized in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, the rise of the MRAP, and the future of SOF patrol vehicles. Vehicles from the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, and several other countries are discussed in the first two sections. Included are descriptions, illustrations or photos of Pink Panthers, Bushmasters, Perenties, Supacats, IFAVs, Pandurs, War Pigs, and RSOVs, among others.

The abundant period photographs, all in color, show many of the vehicles listed above in their natural environment. Most of the photos are of vehicles with full combat loads and many show the crew members. The eleven full-color illustrations by Richard Chasemore, with the exception of the two-page drawing of an SOF Enhanced HUMMV, show the subjects with full weapon and equipment loads. Vehicles (with operating countries) among the illustrations are: the Land Rover 110 “Pink Panther” (UK), Pinzgauer SOV (New Zealand), Perentie LRPV (Australia), Supacat Menacity HMT 400 (UK), M1040 Chenowith DPV (USA), Ground Mobility Vehicle – Special Forces (USA), RG 33 MRAP (USA), and AGF Serval SOF Vehicle (Germany).

This book provides an excellent overview of the many special operations vehicles deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during the first decade of the 21st Century. I highly recommend it for both its narrative and for the large variety of the clear photographs and excellent illustrations. Thanks to Osprey and IPMS for providing this book for review.