The Casemate Short History Series presents readable and entertaining
introductions to military history topics.
Over seven centuries the artillery piece has evolved from a status
symbol to one of the most deadly weapons wielded by man. Using gunpowder
weapons was initially something of a black art, but over the centuries
gunnery became a science, a dependable method of breaching
fortifications, or overcoming an enemy on the battlefield.
By the 19th century, most European armies had artillery units manned
with trained gunners; Napoleon, originally an artillery officer, then
took the use of artillery to a new level. Over the following decades,
rapid advances in gun technology paved the way for the devastatingly
powerful heavy artillery that literally transformed the landscape during
World War I. The use of rolling and box barrages shaped how armies
fought on the front lines and powerful naval guns dictated the outcome
of battles at sea.
By World War II the range of artillery had expanded to include
self-propelled guns, and powerful antitank and antiaircraft guns. In
this informative introduction, Angus Konstam concisely explains how the
development and evolving deployment of artillery led to big guns
becoming the key to victory in two world wars and a potent force on the
modern battlefield.
