A new book from the bestselling author of “Cars of the Red Army” and “Military Vehicles of the Wehrmacht.” A unique encyclopedia of vehicles in service with the Soviet Army in 1945–1991. Complete information about all types of serial army vehicles, special bodies, superstructures and weapons, as well as first-generation armored personnel carriers produced on the chassis of army trucks. During the Second World War, the USSR was catastrophically behind the West in the quality and quantity of vehicles, which became one of the main reasons for the defeats of 1941–1942, then after the Victory our military automobile industry made a colossal leap, not only catching up, but in some ways (for example, in the production of mobile wheeled missile weapon systems and ferry vehicles) even overtaking the “probable enemy.” The best Soviet army vehicles - the legendary GAZ-69, UAZ-469, GAZ-66, ZIL-157, ZIL-131 and Ural-375 - rightfully occupied high positions in world rankings, distinguished by their simplicity, reliability and excellent cross-country ability. Era 1950–1960s became truly a “finest hour” for the entire domestic military-industrial complex, including the automotive industry, which was capable of independently developing unique military equipment that had no analogues abroad, and producing the best all-wheel drive army vehicles with special equipment and weapons in the entire Russian history. This fierce “war of engines,” in which parity with NATO was achieved and the country’s real security was ensured, is described in a new book by a leading specialist in the history of the automotive industry, illustrated with hundreds of rare photographs.