Artillery was the decisive weapon of the Great War – it dominated the battlefields. Yet the history of artillery during the conflict has been neglected, and its impact on the fighting is inadequately understood. Paul Strong and Sanders Marble, in this important and highly readable study, seek to balance the account.
Their work shows that artillery was central to the tactics of the belligerent nations throughout the long course of the conflict, in attack and in defence. They describe, in vivid detail, how in theory and practice the use of artillery developed in different ways among the opposing armies, and they reveal how artillerymen on all sides coped with the extraordinary challenges that confronted them on the battlefield. They also give graphic accounts of the role played by artillery in specific operations, including the battles of Le Cateau, the Somme and Valenciennes.
Their work will be fascinating reading for anyone who is keen to understand the impact of artillery on the Great War and its role in the wider history of modern industrialized warfare.
Artillery was the decisive weapon in The Great War, with all the major powers putting their faith in it, yet this is an aspect of the war that doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. The... [read full review]Artillery was the decisive weapon in The Great War, with all the major powers putting their faith in it, yet this is an aspect of the war that doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. The Great War was the first industrialised war and artillery on a massive scale was a big part of that. Strong and Marble explain this in great detail, yet the reader never gets bogged down in facts. As is typical of Pen & Sword’s author, the human element to the story is of paramount importance. Finally, even by Pen and Sword’s high standards, the illustrated are an absolute joy to behold, ranging from intricate artillery diagrams, to beautiful black and white images of the war which are haunting in both their unfamiliarity and their familiarity. Essential for any one with an interest in The Great War.
Destructive Music.com – Steve EarlesThis is a fascinating read, and a very valuable book, looking at a crucial but often neglected aspect of the First World War (not least by the inter-war armies, which had to painfully relearn the... [read full review]This is a fascinating read, and a very valuable book, looking at a crucial but often neglected aspect of the First World War (not least by the inter-war armies, which had to painfully relearn the lessons of 1917-18 during the second world war).Historyofwar.org
Gunnery remains amongst the least well-analysed and understood aspects of the Great War, even if few battle narratives, personal accounts or histories fail to underline its effects. The field gun, the howitzer and the mortar... [read full review]Gunnery remains amongst the least well-analysed and understood aspects of the Great War, even if few battle narratives, personal accounts or histories fail to underline its effects. The field gun, the howitzer and the mortar were, after all, the greatest killers during World War One. Nevertheless artillery tactics, and the development of gunnery, is a relatively neglected subject which would benefit from many more volumes and pages. That said, this new and relatively broad overview, outlining the application of artillery, its deployment and employment offers an objective and succinct account of their role battle by battle, campaign by campaign, year by year and showing its overwhelming influence of the course of battle. Not least the authors map the slow route from universal gun and shell shortages, and frequently Napoleonic deployment of artillery in 1914 (which occurred despite the well understood usage and shell consumption figures from the Russo-Japanese War) to artillery domination of the battlefield in 1918 and the slow path toward genuine mutual dependence of infantry and all-arms battles which won the Great War.
Typically each chapter offers a broad view of the situation at the start of the year and outlines the application of artillery in key actions showing the developing art of the gunners. As an example, that for 1916 includes Verdun, the Somme - both the British and French experiences - the Brusilov Offensive, and actions on the Isonzo.
Here, Marble and Strong offer clear, well referenced, conclusions to map the pace of artillery development of the battlefield and frequently stuttering development of tactics and weapons. Recommended.David Filsell, Stand To!
This very nearly made it as my Editor's Choice this month and was only narrowly pipped at the post. This fine work, well presented, researched and written, provides us with a highly readable and absorbing... [read full review]This very nearly made it as my Editor's Choice this month and was only narrowly pipped at the post. This fine work, well presented, researched and written, provides us with a highly readable and absorbing study of the artillery of the war.
Dominating the battlefields, it could be argued that artillery was the decisive factor of the conflict. This work shows how it was central to the tactics of all nations, whether attacking or defending. With graphic accounts of the role played by artillery in specific operations, this really is one worth adding to your bookshelves.The Great War Magazine
Strong and Marble have admirably treated the combat arm of artillery without delving into the more complex issues of ordnance and the technical branches. This limitation allows the emphasis tor est solely on a comparative... [read full review]Strong and Marble have admirably treated the combat arm of artillery without delving into the more complex issues of ordnance and the technical branches. This limitation allows the emphasis tor est solely on a comparative analysis of nearly all the primary and secondary players of the war over time. Because of this focus, Artillery in the Great War is a solid and concise overview of the changing aspects of the deadliest combat of World War I.Journal of Military History Vol. 75, No. 3 July 2011
This new book is one I found not only enjoyable to read, but one that tells a lot about the modern development of the science and tactics of artillery, without getting bogged down in the science... [read full review]This new book is one I found not only enjoyable to read, but one that tells a lot about the modern development of the science and tactics of artillery, without getting bogged down in the science or by trying to go too deeply into specific battles. It remains focussed on the title subject throughout, and in such as way as to make this a really useful study for anyone interested in the tactics and use of artillery.Robin Buckland - www.militarymodelling.com
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