- The
Complete Book Of Police And Military Motorcycles - From
Pittsburgh's adoption of motorcycles for police use in 1909
to Gen. John J. "Black Jack" Pershing's 1916 pursuit
of Pancho Villa into Mexican territory on Harley-Davidsons,
Indians and Excelsiors 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, author of The Gatling Gun, explores
every aspect of police and military motorcycles, including
the history of their manufacture by Harley-Davidson, Indian,
Kawasaki, BMW, Honda and
others; details of their procurement by selected U.S. police
departments; critiques of the "Big Three" police
models employed in the United States from officers who have
put them to the test; a detailed outline of the intensive
10-day training program required of U.S. motor officers; an
inside look at how specific police departments from Atlanta
to L.A. utilize motorcycles on a day-to-day basis; and a look
at 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.
- Military
Harley Davidsons - The name Harley-Davidson is synonymous
with the US motorcycle industry. It is now, after more than
a century of operation, one of only two US-based manufacturers
to survive. Although the company's origins are older, 1903
is generally regarded as the year when the company's first
motorcycle was produced. Three years later, the company's
first factory was opened. By 1917, and the US entry into World
War 1, Harley-Davidson had been making motorcycles for more
than a decade and, during the USA's relatively brief involvement
in that conflict, no fewer than 20,000 motorcycles were supplied
to the military helping the company to become the largest
motorcycle manufacturer in the world by 1920. Surviving the
Great Depression, Harley-Davidson
was to become one of the prime suppliers of equipment again
when hostilities resumed, producing no fewer than 90,000 motorcycles
for US and Canadian forces during World War 2 with a further
30,000 going to the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease
program. In Military Harley-Davidson, Pat Ware explores the
Harley-Davidson motorcycle in military service from the earliest
days onwards. Providing initially an overview of the company
and its history from 1903, the bulk of the book concentrates
on the range of models produced by the company and how they
were exploited for military use. Whilst the book concentrates
primarily on those motorcycles produced for use by the Allies
in World War 2, the continuing military role of the Harley-Davidson
in other theaters postwar is also covered. Alongside the narrative
and a fascinating selection of images, the book also
includes a full technical specification for each of
the models discussed. The Harley-Davidson is one of the great
names in the history of motorcycles with a fan-base that extends
worldwide. The role of the company in the provision of military
hardware is a less well known but fascinating part of the
history of the company and its products. This book will be
of interest to Harley-Davidson fans and owners and all motor
cycle enthusiasts, military historians, wargamers and preservationists.
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