World war one artillery

Answer 1

Artillery was used primarily in an indirect fire mode and as an area fire weapon. Indirect fire means that the cannons were oriented on a common reference point, not directly on to the target, and then "referred" on to the gun target line by a forward observer who could see the target. Area fire means that although no single round is expected to hit the target, numurous rounds are fired at the target an an attempt saturate the target area with artillery shells. Although many causualties were caused by artillery fire, it was used to supress enemy fire and shock them during long barrages.

Answer 2

one of the main heavy artillery pieces used by the austrians during World War 1 was the skoda 305mm howitzer. this wieghed 28tonnes but was still designed to be transported via road. The heavy shells weighed 850lbs, and the light ones weighed 630lbs. It was manned by a crew of 12 ands it's maximum range (with heavy shells) is 13,124 yards. Though it was huge, once on site it only took 40mins to assemble. it was developed at pilsen in 1910 and at the outbreeak of the first world war, they were erected outside the fortress of liege in Belgium. During August these guns destroyed the ring of 12 fortresses around the city.

Answer 3

The Heavy Batteries

The role of the Heavy Battery

Heavy Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy guns, sending large caliber high explosive shells in fairly flat trajectory fire. The usual armaments were 60 pounder (5 inch) guns, although some had obsolescent 5 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Heavy Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralizing the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strong points, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. The armaments of each battery will be given as details are added.

The Siege Batteries

The role of the Siege Battery

Siege Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large caliber high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire. The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralizing the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strong points, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. The armaments of each battery will be given as details are added.

British Anti Aircraft Artillery

The first development of Anti-Aircraft Artillery

The Great War was the first in which heavier-than-air aircraft played an important role. While the central role of the air forces was reconnaissance for the purposes of assisting the artillery, tactical and strategic bombing, together with ground support and strafing, grew in importance as components of the air approach of all sides. Shooting down enemy aircraft (or at least frightening them off) naturally followed as an important aspect of defense. Firing at a moving airborne target is most difficult, but the basics of weaponry, gunnery and command all developed fast during the war. This section of the Long, Long Trail explains how.

Batteries Royal Navy Artillery

The RMA Howitzer Brigade in France

In October 1914 the RMA was reorganized to provide two artillery brigades for the Western Front. One of these became an anti-aircraft unit, but the second was equipped with twelve heavy 15 inch howitzers to form the RM Howitzer Brigade. The Brigade totaled around 1,000 all ranks, but never fought as a complete unit. Although originally organized with a brigade headquarters and arrangements made that each pair of howitzers should form a battery, this organization was not retained once in France; Colonel Poole remained in command of the Brigade throughout the war after August 1915, but in May 1916 was appointed to command the 26th Heavy Artillery Group and only dealt with the RMA howitzers administratively. The huge weapons were deployed as single units - each requiring a crew of 60 men - along the front line. The first landed in France on 15 February 1915. A training base was established at Fort Cumberland at Portsmouth.

The guns

The RMA guns were strange misfits, owing their existence to the private enterprise of the Coventry Ordnance Works and their presence in France to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill. The Coventry Works had designed and built the modern 9.2" howitzers, which had first arrived in France for the RGA Siege Batteries in November 1914 and, after the success of this equipment, had on their own initiative decided to build something altogether bigger and more powerful. Thus was born the 15 inch Breech Loading Siege Howitzer, which had a maximum range of 10,795 yards, firing a 1,400 pound shell. In order to gain acceptance within the military establishment, a Coventry Ordnance Works Director, Admiral Bacon, exploited his connections with the Admiralty in order to effect an introduction to the Ordnance Board of the Army. Churchill, as was his wont, intervened. Spotting an opportunity for the Navy to get embroiled in the action on the Western Front - as well as sensing a good story for the press - Churchill manned the first gun with a team of Royal Marine artillerymen and sent them post haste to France. They would be followed by another eleven of the 10 ton 15 hundredweight behemoths. Churchill's enthusiasm for his Royal Marine Artillery soon waned and the twelve howitzers were turned over to the army. When approached by the Director of Artillery for further information about these unwanted 'gifts' the Ordnance Board commented acidly "These equipments were obtained by the Navy in direct negotiation with the manufacturers, and the Board was not consulted. In view of the poor range achieved, it is felt that these weapons are a waste of money and material". The guns were declared obsolete and scrapped in 1920. As will be appreciated from the photograph, the time and effort required to move, erect and fire these weapons was prodigious. Simply to move one howitzer required three specially built Foster-Daimler steam tractors.

Answer 4

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