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    A series of articles

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    Reflection, Resolution, Challenge - Artillery in the First World War

    New Year's Day is a time for reflection. One cannot help but wonder what thoughts went through the minds of the Kaiser's Gunners as the New Year opened on 1 January 1915. Or what were the thoughts of their comrades in the Austro-Hungarian artillery or of the allied gunners pouring counterfire down on German positions. The Centenary of the First World War in the second half of 2014 was marked publicly by solemn ceremonies and reflective discussion. But from my opinion it still was a bit subdu
    IrishGunner

    IrishGunner

    4

    Artillery in the First World War: Russia’s Artillery - Published

    After a lengthy delay in finishing the piece, the fourth article in the series Artillery in the First World War has now been published. Artillery in the First World War: Russia – The Tsar’s Cannons Summertime distractions on the Chesapeake have given way to requisite autumn maintenance tasks in the garden; cleaning out dead foliage from the flower beds, raking leaves, putting away the kayak, preparing the house for the onslaught of Nor'easters. While there is much to be done, this time of ye
    IrishGunner

    IrishGunner

    0

    Artillery in the First World War: Neutralizing the Kaiser's Guns

    It's been raining all day, hindering my efforts to get some last standing chores completed in the garden before the onset of winter makes all horticulture efforts moot. Now in the evening, the rain continues to fall, and there is nothing more fruitful to do on a dreary day and evening than to get to some of that long neglected research. Edgar Allan Poe, one of America's great poets, is buried in Baltimore, not far up the Chesapeake Bay from my current abode. And the opening of his poem, The R
    IrishGunner

    IrishGunner

    1

    Artillery in the First World War: Belgium’s Artillery - Published

    The third article in the series Artillery in the First World War has now been published. Artillery in the First World War: Belgium’s Artillery and the Battle of Liege, 1914 The Tsar's Cannons, the Russian entry to the series, is still in rough draft and likely will be delayed further. Summer on the Bay is full of distractions; kayaking, fishing, crabbing, barbeques, beer drinking, gardening. And those are only the things I put on my "to-do list". Of course, the Commander-in-Chief (aka wife
    IrishGunner

    IrishGunner

    2

    Artillery in the First World War: Special Issue – The Royal Artillery at Mons, 23 August 1914

    My intention was to publish this entry yesterday on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Mons. However, as Robert Burns wrote, "The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley." That applies to combat operations plans as well. No plan survives enemy contact. This special issue of Artillery in the First World War will also further delay publishing "Artillery in the First World War: Russia – The Tsar’s Cannons." In the meantime, another special issue has already been submitted for pub
    IrishGunner

    IrishGunner

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    Artillery in the First World War - A series of articles

    Sources vary and exact figures are difficult to achieve; however, consensus is that artillery caused the majority (something close to 60 percent) of combat casualties in the First World War. Add in the effects of constant harassing fire, reaching far behind the lines with large caliber weapons, as well as those of artillery-delivered gas attacks, and there can be no doubt that artillery was an effective killer. German production of artillery shells went from 1.36 million in 1914 to 36 million
    IrishGunner

    IrishGunner

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