In the early/mid-1950s, a new military doctrine evolved in the Soviet Union requiring increased troop mobility. In response, plans were made for modernizing and expanding the Soviet Air Force's military airlift arm to meet the demands of contemporary warfare. The design bureau led by Oleg K. Antonov took on the task, developing first the twin-engined An-8 in 1955 and then the four-turboprop An-12 - the Soviet counterpart to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. First flown on December 16, 1957, the An-12 was a derivative of the An-10 medium-haul airliner and had a better fate than its predecessor, almost becoming as successful as the Hercules. The An-12 was built in large numbers and with numerous specialized versions to fill a multitude of roles. This rugged airlifter has proved its worth both in combat and in commercial operations throughout the world. The An-12 is still used by the Russian Air Force and numerous airlines both in and outside the former Soviet bloc to this day. Though long out of production in its home country, the An-12 lives on in China as the Shaanxi Y8. This book covers each known version and gives a detailed account of the An-12's entire service career.