ISBN 1-85367-478-8
256 pages

Preface; photos; diagrams; tables; Glossary

Appendices: Ammunition; Ammunition Markings

   Originally published in 1978 by Arms and Armour, this is an unrevised and unabridged reprint of that edition, and it remains the best overall survey of US and UK artillery in the Second World War.
   The contents are divided into eight chapters:

Artillery development by the Western Allies

Field and Medium Artillery

Anti-Tank Artillery

Anti-Aircraft Artillery

Heavy and Super-Heavy Artillery

Railway Artillery

Coast Artillery

Recoilless Artillery

   Each chapter covers from eight to about twenty guns, split more or less evenly between Yanks and Brits. The "Heavy and Super-Heavy" chapter, for example, includes these entries:

Great Britain

6in Field Gun

7.2in Howitzers

8in Howitzers

9.2in Howitzer

BL 12in Howitzer

USA

155mm Guns

8in Howitzers

8in Gun

240mm Howitzers

240mm Howitzer M1

914mm Mortar "Little David"

   Each entry indicates whether the weapon was British or American, gives the title of the weapon (or group of weapons), summarizes development and operational use of the weapon, lists all the variants, and then gives in tabular format full specifications, such as weight, length, rifling, elevation, traverse, ammunition, etc. Entries are also usually accompanied by photos of the weapon, diagrams of the ammunition, etc. Here's an example of a short entry.

8in Howitzerss

The 8in Howitzer was another relic of the First World War and, by 1939, only the Mk 8 was left in service. Several were left behind in France in 1940 and, rather than perpetuate an old design, it was decided to replace it by the 7.2in howitzer. The carriages were to be used as they stood, while the breech mechanisms and any other useful bits were to be incorporated into the 7. 2in design. As a result, the 8in was 'cannibalized' out of service in 1941; it was formally declared obsolete in July 1943. Except for some counter-bombardment fire in France in 1939-40 and subsequent use as a training weapon in Britain until called in for conversion, the 8in played little direct part in the war, but it was invaluable as a short-cut to the 7.2in design.

Data
Weight of gun and breech mechanism: 7,5601b.
Total length: 148.4in.
Length of bore: 138.4in (17.3 cal).
Rifling: 48 grooves, uniform RH 1/25.
Breech mechanism: Asbury interrupted screw, percussion fired.
Elevation: 0° to +45°
Traverse: 4° right and left.
Recoil system: Hydropneumatic, variable, 24in to 52. 5in.
Weight in action: 20,0481b.

Performance firing standard 2001b HE shell
Muzzle velocity: 1,500ft/sec.
Maximum range: 12,400 yards.

Ammunition separate loading, bag charge.
Propelling charge. This consisted of a six-Dart charge, a total weight of 1721b of Cordite. Performance of the charges was as follows.

Charge:	Muzzle velocity:	Range:
1	735ft/sec	4,950 yards
2	840ft/sec	6,100 yards
3	985ft/sec	7,950yards
4	1,300ft/sec	10,750 yards
5	1,400ft/sec	11,450 yards
6	1,500ft/sec	12,400 yards

Shell, HE, Mk 15. A nose-fuzed non-streamlined shell filled with TNT or Amatol. The Percussion Fuze IOIE or 106E were used, and the weight as fired was 2001b.

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Hogg, Ian V. German Artillery of World War Two. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002

ISBN 1-85367-480-X
304 pages

Introduction; photos; diagrams; tables; Index

Appendices: Ammunition; Ammunition Markings; Identification of German Cartridge Cases; Fremdengerat; Wehrkreis Organization; Glossary

   Hogg's volume on German artillery was originally published in 1975 by Arms and Armour, then reprinted in a revised edition by Greenhill Books in 1997. This edition is a straight reprint of the latter.
   Unsurprisingly, this title is organized much like its companion:

Introduction

Organisation

Infantry Artillery

Mountain Artillery

Field Artillery

Heavy Field Artillery

Heavy Artillery

Railway Artillery

Anti-Aircraft Artillery

Anti-Tank Artillery

Coastal Artillery

Recoilless Artillery

   Overall, the Germans have many more types of weapons, and more unusual and interesting types, but presentation of data for each individual weapon closely resembles that of the British/American artillery volume. Here's a typical example.

15cm Kanone 18

   The K 18 was developed by Rheinmetall, commencing in 1933, to provide a replacement for the elderly l5cm K 16; it was eventually accepted into service in 1938. The K 18 was little improvement on its predecessor, it was almost two tons heavier, it still had to be dismantled for travelling, and the increase in range was a mere 2290m (2500yd).
   In appearance the K18 was certainly more modern—a good example of the Rheinmetall's design style. The box trail was supported on a small limber for travelling and beneath it was slung a two-piece platform. The trail also carried a set of ramps for use during assembly, and for transport the barrel was removed to a transport wagon. The carriage unit, when it came into action, was drawn into the required position and the platform was lowered; the carriage was then pulled forward so that a supporting bracket attached to the platform and to the axle, pivoted and raised the wheels from the ground. The ramps were then assembled to the trail and the barrel transporter was drawn up until the barrel could be slid into the cradle and connected to the recoil system. Once in action, the equipment was balanced so that it could be traversed relatively easily on the platform.

Data
Calibre: 150mm/5.9lin.
Length of gun: 8200mm/322.83in/26.90ft.
Length of bore: 6432mm/253.23in/21.10ft.
Rifling: right-hand uniform twist, 1/30.
Breech mechanism: horizontal sliding block, percussion fired.
Traverse: 10° on the carriage, 360° on the turn-table platform.
Elevation: - 2° to +45°.
Weight in action: 12760kg/261361b/12.56 ton.

Performance
Firing standard high explosive shell, weight 43.00kg(94.821b).
Full charge: velocity 890mps/2920fps, maximum range 24500m/26793yd.

Ammunition
Separate-loading, cased charge.

Projectiles
15cm K Gr 18: fuzed AZ 23v(0.15), AZ 23v (0.25) or Dopp Z S/90, weight 43.00kg(94.821b) This, the standard high explosive shell, was of conventional pattern. Two copper driving bands were fitted and the filling was 5.65kg(12.461b) of amatol 60/40.

15cm K Gr 42: fuzed AZ 1v(0.15) or Dopp Z S/90, weight 43.00kg(94.821b). Similar to the earlier model, this shell had two soft-iron (FEW) driving bands, set about 25mm (1in) farther forward on the shell, giving it a longer boat-tail. The walls were also slightly thinner, giving a capacity of 6.15kg(13.561b) of amatol 50/50.

15cm Gr 19 Be rot: fuzed Bd Z f 15cm Gr Be, weight 43.50kg(95.921b). This was an anti-concrete shell with a truncated conical nose concealed by a bluntly-rounded ballistic cap; it was filled with 3.25kg(7.171b) of TNT and was base fuzed.

Propelling Charges
It is known that three charges were provided, but no data of their constitution is available.

Primer
The percussion primer C/12nA was standard.

Case Identification Number: 6352.

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   These are both classic references for WWII weapons, and anyone with any interest in artillery should absolutely grab these titles.
   Both books are available from online booksellers, local bookshops, or directly from Stackpole. In the UK, published by and available from Greenhill Books.
   Thanks to Stackpole Books for providing these review copies.