R. P. Hunnicutt
Richard Pearce Hunnicutt (June 15, 1926 – April 29, 2011) was an American historian, known for his research in armored fighting vehicles.
R.P. Hunnicutt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Pearce Hunnicutt June 15, 1926 Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | April 29, 2011 (aged 84) Tigard, Oregon, U.S. |
| Occupation | Historian Engineer |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Stanford University |
| Period | 1971-2002 |
Hunnicutt was born in Asheville, North Carolina, to James Ballard Hunnicutt and Ida Belle Black. He altered his birth certificate to enlist in the U.S. Army in September 1943. He fought at Leyte and in April 1945 at Okinawa where he was promoted to sergeant and earned the Silver Star. After the war he was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany.[1]
He earned a master's degree in engineering from Stanford University and later worked at General Motors. He met his future wife Susan Haight in Detroit. Later he worked as a metallurgist, consultant and partner in an engineering firm, ANAMET Laboratories. Hunnicutt was a nationally recognized expert in metal fatigue.
Hunnicutt was one of the founders of the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground and a frequent contributor to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox.
Hunnicutt is mainly known for his research in the history and development of American armored fighting vehicles. He authored many books on American military vehicles.
Historian Steven Zaloga described the multi-volume study as "essential cornerstone for anyone interested in U.S. tank history".[2]
Works
- Hunnicutt, R.P. (1971). Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series. Navato, CA: Presidio Press. ISBN 0-98219-070-0
- Hunnicutt, R.P. (2001). Half-Track: A History of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-742-7
- Hunnicutt, R.P. (2002). Armored Car: A History of American Wheeled Combat Vehicles. Navato, CA. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-777-X
- Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank -1971
- Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank - volume 1 of history of light tanks
- Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles -1999
- Sheridan: A History of the American Light Tank -1995, volume 2 of history of light tanks
- Hunnicutt, R. P. (29 May 2015). Patton: A History of the American Main Battle Tank. Echo Point Books & Media. ISBN 978-1626541597. LCCN 84016586. OL 2854160M.
- Abrams: A History of the American Main Battle Tank -1990
- Firepower: A History of the American Heavy Tank -1988
Sources
- "R. P. Hunnicutt". www.librarything.com. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
- Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War II p353
- Richard Pearce Hunnicutt Obituary, Published in The Oregonian on May 4, 2011