Artillery (up to 1900) - Great Britain: books - history

English Civil War Artillery 1642–51 (Osprey)

At the beginning of the English Civil War it was clear that artillery was to play a significant part in the conflict, as so many battles were fought by siege. Both Royalists and Parliamentarians raced to capture ordnance stores in urban areas such as London and Hull, realising that they would prove strategically decisive in the siege warfare that later developed.
Illustrated with superb colour plates by Brian Delf, this book gives the reader an overview of the types of weapon used in this conflict and, more generally, how artillery was actually used in the seventeenth century.

Contents: Introduction - Parlimentary Trains - Royalist Trains - Types of artillery - Drill - Tactics - Battlefield effectiveness - Glossary - Bibliography - Colour plate commentary - Index.

British Napoleonic Artillery 1793-1815 (1) - Field Artillery (Osprey)

This title is the first of two volumes examining the artillery equipment of the British forces during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, along with Wellington's campaigns in India. Throughout this period the British Army used both Foot and Horse artillery, principally using either the 9-pounder gun or the 5.5 inch field howitzer in the field. Also covered are the smaller field guns in the 3- and 6-pounder categories and the largest, the 12-pounder field gun.

This title covers the design and development of the guns, the organisation of the troops and their operational histories.

Contents: Introduction - Organisation - Equipment - Drill and Tactics - Glossary - Colour plate commentary - Index.

British Napoleonic Artillery 1793-1815 (2) - Siege and Coastal Artillery (Osprey)

Following on from the first volume covering British Napoleonic Artillery, this volume concentrates on the heavy weapons of siege and coastal defences.

This book covers the main equipments used; the 24 pounder siege gun and a variety of mortars. Mortars varied from 4- or 5-inch versions up to a13 inch calibre and were considered to be extremely effective because they used an exploding shell to destroy fortifications or personnel. Also covered in detail is the specialist bomb vessel, which was used to attack fortifications in a similar fashion; siege techniques; and the tactical use of siege and coastal artillery.

Contents: Equipment and Operation - Guns in Action - Bibliography - Glossary - Colour Plate Commentary - Index.