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Artillery (since 1900) - Great Britain: books - history
A book on British artillery? Here are books on the history, technology and deployment of British guns and other artillery, since 1900.
British Artillery 1914-19 - Field Army Artillery (Osprey)
In 1914 the artillery of Britain's 'Field Army' encompassed those weapons judged to have sufficient mobility to keep up with troops in the field.
This book describes all major variants, from the 60-pdr guns of the heavy field batteries, perched somewhat uncomfortably on the cusp between field artillery and siege artillery, to the 2.75in. guns of the mountain batteries, almost toy-like in comparison. Between these two extremes lay the bulk of the artillery of the Field Army: the 13-pdr guns of the Royal Horse Artillery, and the 18-pdr guns and 4.5in. howitzers of the Royal Field Artillery batteries.
British Artillery 1914-19 - Heavy Artillery (Osprey)
World War I is often deemed to have been 'a war of artillery', and British heavy artillery played a vital part in destroying the German trenches and providing invaluable cover for advancing troops on the Western Front.
This book details the huge guns of the Royal Garrison Artillery, including the 6-in. siege gun and howitzer, the 8-in. howitzer, the 12-in. railway and siege howitzer and the infamous 9.2-in breech-loading siege howitzer. Camouflage and enemy battery locations and transport are covered, as well as tactics used and how the guns were developed and manned.
Contents: Introduction - Design and development - Operation - Active Service - The Guns - Aftermath - Bibliography - Colour plate commentary - Index.
Author:
Dale Clarke
Specs:
48 pages, 25 x 18.5 x 0.4 cm / 9.8 x 7.3 x 0.16 in, paperback
Of all the British guns in use during the Second World War, the 25 pounder is the gun that best represents Britain's armed forces. It was adaptable, it packed a powerful punch, and above all it was reliable.
This book provides a full combat history of a gun that was used in every theatre of the Second World War and saw extensive service in the postwar years, particularly in Korea and during the Malaysian emergency. The last 25-pounder gun to see action in the British Army was one used by SAS troops at Mirbat, Oman, in 1972.
Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Operational History - Colour plate commentary - Bibliography - Index.
Author:
Chris Henry
Specs:
48 pages, 24.5 x 18.5 x 0.4 cm / 9.7 x 7.3 x 0.16 in, paperback
The rapid development of the tank as an offensive weapon following its introduction in World War I gave artillery theorists cause for concern during the 1920s and 1930s. By the beginning of World War II anti-tank guns had been developed, initially at around 37mm and 2 pounds in weight of shot. By the end of the war, monster anti-tank weapons were being developed, able to penetrate an armour thickness of up to 200mm at a range of 1,000 yards.
This book explores the British efforts to keep up in a war of development, which saw heavier and more powerful guns eventually replaced by experimental ideas in an attempt to stop the German onslaught.
Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Operation History - Variants - Colour plate commentary.
Author:
Chris Henry
Specs:
48 pages, 25 x 18.5 x 0.4 cm / 9.8 x 7.3 x 0.16 in, paperback
