Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact (Weapons and Warfare)

Addressing its technical evolution as well as its military and social impact, this comprehensive reference shows how historic leaders such as Dionysus of Syracuse, the Ottoman sultan Mohammad II, Oliver Cromwell, and Napoleon Bonaparte were successful in battle because of their innovative use of artillery.Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact charts the development of large, crew-operated battlefield weapons from the dart firers and catapults of the ancient world to the invention of gunpowder in China and its applications in medieval Europe, and from the emergence of naval and land gunnery four centuries ago to the latest rapid-fire, rocket propulsion, laser guidance, and antiaircraft technologies.Written by an expert on military history, Artillery explores the technological and strategic innovations that have made these weapons increasingly effective at breaking through fortifications, inflicting casualties from a safe distance, providing cover for advancing forces, demoralizing opponents, and defending positions from attack. Beyond the battlefield, the book also looks at the impact of artillery on history and on the lives of civilians as well as soldiers. ARTILLERY: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY......Page 2 CONTENTS ......Page 6 INTRODUCTION TO WEAPONS AND WARFARE SERIES ......Page 8 PREFACE ......Page 10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......Page 12 1: Ancient and Medieval Artillery ......Page 14 2: Early Gunpowder Artillery ......Page 44 3: The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries ......Page 82 4: Eighteenth- and Early-Nineteenth-Century Artillery ......Page 118 5: Nineteenth-Century U.S. Artillery, 1800–1865 ......Page 176 6: Late-Nineteenth- and Early-Twentieth-Century Artillery ......Page 234 7: The Interwar Years and World War II, 1921–1945 ......Page 282 8: Post–World War II and Late-Twentieth-Century Developments ......Page 312 REFERENCE SECTION ......Page 336 CHAPTER SIX SPECIFICATIONS: LATE-NINETEENTH-AND EARLY-TWENTIE TH-CENTURY ARTILLERY......Page 338 CHAPTER SEVEN SPECIFICAT IONS: 1921–1945 ......Page 400 CHAPTER EIGHT SPECIFICATIONS: POST–WORLD WAR I I AND LATE-TWENTIETH-CENTURY DEVELOPMENTS......Page 478 GLOSSARY ......Page 514 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......Page 518 INDEX ......Page 522 ABOUT THE AUTHOR ......Page 550 "Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact charts the development of large, crew-operated battlefield weapons from the dart firers and catapults of the ancient world to the invention of gunpowder in China and its applications in medieval Europe, and from the emergence of naval and land gunnery four centuries ago to the latest rapid-fire, rocket propulsion, laser guidance, and antiaircraft technologies. Written by an expert on military history, Artillery explores the technological and strategic innovations that have made these weapons increasingly effective at breaking through fortifications, inflicting casualties from a safe distance, providing cover for advancing forces, demoralizing opponents, and defending positions from attack. Beyond the battlefield, the book also looks at the impact of artillery on history and on the lives of civilians as well as soldiers." Preface -- Ancient And Medieval Artillery -- Early Gunpowder Artillery -- The Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centuries -- Eighteenth- And Early-nineteenth-century Artillery -- Nineteenth-century U.s. Artillery, 1800-1865 -- Late-nineteenth- And Early-twentieth-century Artillery -- The Interwar Years And World War Ii, 1921-1945 -- Post-world War Ii And Late-twentieth-century Developments. Jeff Kinard. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 505-507) And Index. Examines the history of artillery, from ancient times through the late twentieth century, discussing their development and uses, and analyzing the effects weapons had on civilization. Includes photographs, illustrations, and specifications