Exploring one of the most complex and consequential machines in modern warfare, Target Stopped: The History of the Modern Tank offers a vivid study of the tank’s development and impact. Opening with a gripping contemporary combat account, Sam Cranny-Evans demonstrates how decades of engineering innovation – ranging from advanced armour to active protection systems – shape life-and-death outcomes on the battlefield.
From there, the book traces the evolution of the tank from the closing stages of World War II through the Cold War and into the conflicts of the 21st century, examining how shifting doctrines, emerging technologies, and real-world combat experience have continually reshaped its design.
Cranny-Evans expertly balances technical depth with accessibility. Detailed explanations of ballistics, armour composition, fire control systems, and mobility are woven into engaging battle stories. Case studies – from the Korean War to modern urban warfare – highlight the interplay between human decision-making and technological capability.
This is a compelling and accessible account of the modern tank’s evolution – one that illuminates the machine, the people who operate it, and the shifting character of warfare itself.