Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Austrian Napoleonic Artillery 1792-1815 (New Vanguard 72) by David Hollins, Brian Delf ISBN: 1-84176-499-X Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 June, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: The Sound of the Guns...
Comment: This is one of the best volumes on artillery that I have come across in the many years I have studied the arm (being a retired Marine Corps artillery officer is another reason for my interest). The booklet is rich in detail and technical data, and covers the entire subject very well. While there is more of a smell of lamp oil and printer's, instead of the venerable 'whiff of grapeshot', about the booklet, the author has done an excellent job in assembling a mass of information, some of it not normally found in modern volumes on the period, and presenting it in a simple, straightforward manner.
The Austrian Lichtenstein artillery system is rightly considered the first integrated artillery system in military history, and this volume amply demonstrates why.
Sourcing is excellent, the paintings done for the booklet are superb, and the other illustrations enhance an already valuable and informative text. My favorite illustration is the one on page 44 showing Austrian artillerymen at rest on or near their piece. It is both artistically pleasing and accurately depicts artillerymen of the at ease around a piece, e typical of the armies of the period.
The author has masterfully assembled a mass of information that is logically and clearly presented, much of it in data tables. The illustrations supplement the text, and the section on rockets is most informative, though more information would have been helpful. The section on the Austrian cavalry batteries is outstanding, and clearly and concisely 'tells the tale' why this mobile field artillery was not exactly horse artillery.
The Austrian artillery was known for the excellence of its gunnery, the simple and standardization of its equipment and guns, and its general efficiency. The artillerymen themselves were amongst the best in Europe, though tending to be somewhat conservative in overall employment on the battlefield.
The outstanding Austrian artilleryman of the period, Josef Smola (who commanded the large Austrian battery at Essling in May 1809), is mentioned and quoted, though it would perhaps have been better if more information could have been supplied about him. Additionally, more information on Austrian artillery tactics and doctrine would have been helpful.
It would have been very helpful to have presented, even briefly, Austrian tactical doctrine for the period and where it was taught. The Austrian 1757 regulation didn't present it, nor did the 1808/09 updated version. Conversations on different internet forae have failed to produce evidence of it being either in print or taught in 'the main training school for NCOs and officers', first at Budweis and later when the school was transferred to Vienna. Unlike the excellent French artillery schools, which after 1763 taught infantry/artillery cooperation along with the standard artillery curriculum, this doesn't seem to have been done in the Austrian equivalent. Hence, the author's contention that 'By 1790, Austria's artillery was considered the best in Europe, primarily because of its technical specialists, the Bombardiers' and that 'no other army possessed similar artillery personnel' is not supported either in the text or bibliogaphy. France, by 1789, possessed an excellent artillery arm, especially in personnel, completely revamped by Gribeauval in the 1760s. Their schools predated the Austrian (as well as serving as a model for the Austrian artillery school). The Regiment Royal Artillerie was formed in 1693 and the Regiment des Bombardiers du Roi in 1695 when Austrian artillery was stil a guild.
Care has to be taken with this booklet in three areas, however.
First, the idea that Gribeauval 'essentially copied the designs in the 1770s and developed them into heavier weaponswith longer 18-calibre barrels' (page 15) is an incorrect and somewhat overblown statement. The Gribeauval tubes were first cast and tested in the early 1760s (the famous Strasbourg artillery tests), shortly after Gribeauval's return to France from Austria. Gribeauval himself makes a statement on the influence of different nation's contribution to the new system, which is somewhat enlightening (it's in the March 1762 letter to the French Minister of War, Choiseul), and contradicts this statement in the booklet. Additionally, there is no sourcing for this statement in the bibliography, which renders the idea somewhat impotent.
Further, there is no evidence offered for this rather broad and all-encompassing statement. When the subject is investigated using original French sources, the result is quite different. While there is definitely influence from the excellent Lichtenstein tubes (just as Lichtenstein was influenced by both Valliere and the Prussians), the Gribeauval tubes were completely new, much stronger with a longer service life, and looked different that the Austrian tubes. The carriages were completely redesigned-shorter, stroner, and with a definite sled-like upswing to the trails to accomodate the use of the new prolonge, which the Austrian carriages generally do not have. The new cavalry gun carriages do (though not as radically as the French gun carriages), but they were developed and produced in the 1780s after the introduction of Gribeauval's prolonge into the Austrian service. What is not mentioned in the booklet is Lichtenstein's direct copying of the Prussian elevating system, which I thought quite odd.
Second, the glossary is poor. The German technical artillery terms are not translated into common English language artillery terms which, at best, is awkward, and, at worst, is completely wrong. In short, it doesn't fit the bill and is a drawback to the book and clearly demonstrates that the author is not at home with artillery. For example, 'Stirn' is translated as the 'Front crosspiece of the Lafette' instead of the correct term, 'transom'; 'Hebzeug' is translated as 'Frame for lifting barrels from carriages' instead of the proper term, 'gin.' Lastly, and possibley the worst offender is 'inserts for the barrel trunnions' which are commonly called in artillery manuals and treatises of the period 'trunnion plates.' These are descriptions, not the terms that are usually seen in artillery documents. This isn't a good substitution and it isn't really helpful for someone trying to learn about artillery of the period in general, and for those who are knowledgeable on the subject it is very amateurish and indicates a general ignorance of the subject material. Interestingly, if you use a German military dictionary, the common artillery terms in English are given as a translation, not the 'explanation' used in this booklet.
Third, and somewhat minor, the description of crew drill on page thirteen is somewhat curious. Number three clears the touchhole, thumbs the vent, spikes the charge, and inserts the primer, tasks done in other armies by two men-and no one is listed who elevates or depresses the piece (hence two men performing these tasks as with armies' artillery arms). He must have been a very busy individual. This is just a little curious, as is the statement that the pricker was used to keep the round in position while the rammer was being removed. That would only be necessary if the rammer was a very tight fit, thus forming a partial vacuum. The pricker was used for two things: cleaning the vent and punching a hole in cartridge so the primer could be inserted in the powder bag through the vent. Interestingly, the narrative suggests that wasn't done, merely that the primer was put in the vent.
However, this volume is an excellent addition to literature on the subject and is one of the best of the Osprey volumes. In the artillery series only the two on French artillery by Rene Chartrand are better, and the technical material given in the tables is of great value to researchers and historians.
This booklet is highly recommended to any and all who are interested in the artillery of the period and in artillery in general and it belongs in any collection and library of the period. If you don't have it or are not planning to get it, you are missing out on a treat as well as a valuble piece of information.
Rating: 5
Summary: THE book on Austrian Artillery of the Napoleonic Era.
Comment: Today I received my copy of Dave Hollin's book on Austrian Artillery. I am very pleased with the product. The text is straight forward. A great amount of useful technical material is provided, mostly in table form. Mr. Hollins provides a text that easily flows from one topic to the next.
The illustrations selected are great - much of the material has never been seen before in print. These illustrations alone would make this booklet a 'must have' selection.
Several picayune criticisms:
1) The table at the bottom of page 15: the right hand column should be cm/Zoll. As this is the length of the Taube, or casable as it is called in English. The measurement is from the rear of the basering to the furthermost end of the casable.
2) The cannon ball, illustrated on page 34: The damage was more likely caused by water and chemical damage while in the ground, than the causes listed. It would be nice to know the story of this particular cannon ball.
Several items of great interest:
1) Page 12, top: This illustration, from 1760 or earlier, clearly shows the 'bricole' in use by Austria.
2) Page 19: Excellent photographs of the Kavallerie carriage and tube (its sole distinction, the 'chiseled off' Taube (or casable)). A very rare illustration of the Kavallerie howitzer.
3) Pages 22 and 23: Illustrations of the fortress and siege pieces.
4) Good drawings of the Field forges (2 and 4 wheeled).
Again, this is an excellent work - It clearly shows the effort and time spent by Dave and his colleagues to get it right. Thanks, Dave, for your great efforts.
Steve
 |
Title: Napoleons Guns 1792-1815 (1: Field Artillery (New Vanguard, 66) by Rene Chartrand, Ray Hutchins ISBN: 1841764582 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: British Napoleonic Artillery 1793-1815: Field Artillery (New Vanguard, 60) by Chris Henry, Brian Delf ISBN: 1841764760 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: British Napoleonic Artillery 1793-1815 (2): Siege and Coastal Artillery (New Vanguard, 65) by Chris Henry, Brian Delf ISBN: 1841764779 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: Prussian Staff & Specialist Troops1791-1815 (Men at Arms, 381) by Peter Hofschroer ISBN: 1841763446 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: Napoleon's Gun 1792-1815 (2): Heavy and Siege Artillery (New Vanguard) by Rene Chartrand, Ray Hutchins ISBN: 1841764604 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
