Field Artillery and Firepower [Hardcover]

J. B. A. Bailey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1591140293 | ISBN-13: 978-1591140290 | Publication Date: December 2003 | Edition: Rev Exp

This definitive overview of the development and use of artillery makes the complex artillery systems of today understandable, while at the same time showing how they have evolved and how they are likely to change in the future. The author, until recently chief of artillery for the British Army, is considered one of the world's foremost experts on the subject. Unlike other books that either describe the technical aspects of present-day firepower or outline its history during specific wars, this work provides both a detailed explanation of the modern artillery system and a history of its development over the past six hundred fifty years, identifying its enduring principles and changing practices against an ever-changing background of technology, tactics, and strategy. When an earlier version of this book was published in 1989, it became known as the best single source on field artillery in the English language. This new edition has been fully updated and substantially expanded to cover a wide range of contemporary military debates and the role of firepower and is certain to be regarded as the ultimate work on the subject for years to come. J. B. A. Bailey assesses major developments over the past decade, analyzing artillery operations in airborne, urban, littoral, desert, jungle, mountain, arctic, and nocturnal environments. He examines direct fire, counterfire, the suppression of enemy air defenses, and force protection methods. He explains field artillery from its primitive beginnings to its dominance as an art in World War II and its potent utility in operations since 1945 and into the future. The book will be of particular interest to military historians and those engaged in debatingfirepower's future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a treasure trove of insights of great value to every serious student of military operations." -- Australian Army Journal, Winter 2004

About the Author

J. B. A. Bailey, a major general in the British Army, is currently responsible for the Army's future concepts, force development, and doctrine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 584 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press; Rev Exp edition (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591140293
• ISBN-13: 978-1591140290
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth rereading and careful studying, June 21, 2005

By 

Robert Crandall (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Field Artillery and Firepower (Hardcover)

When I bought this book I was looking for specifics on a number of items regarding recent NATO and Warsaw Pact artillery practices. Since the author was an extremely well placed observer / participant to all this I was looking forward to the book. My initial impression though was that it lacked the hard data and analysis that I was looking for and it promptly went into the 'read later' pile for a couple of weeks.

Clearing my mind of preconceptions, I started back in on it and found it rewarded careful reading and contained far more content than I had originally thought. Almost every time I dipped into the modern era sections I found more to hold my interest. You won't find anything here that can't be found in the open press but it is still very much worth having. I thought that the description of the twists and turns of NATO / WP doctrine in the three eras following 1945 was particularly good and finally explained things that I had never understood from other readings. He discusses the interplay of the role of conventional artillery, nuclear escalation, and logistical constraints in a way that finally makes it clear what the limits available to the strategists were. Great stuff!

Now if only he could have supplied more tables, charts and dates. Oh well, if there is a second edition that rolls more of that in then I'll buy it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Get the other edition, October 28, 2009

By 

JI Sowden (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Field Artillery and Firepower (Combined Army's Library Series, Vol 1) (Paperback)

This is a great book, and I highly recommend it to those with an interest in the Offensive Support BOS, however, do NOT get *this* edition. This one runs through till the end of the 1980s, and there is a later edition that continues the book up till 200x. Get that one instead.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book-lots of history, August 31, 2009

By 

lsusan tx "susan" (tx United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Field Artillery and Firepower (Hardcover)

This book was purchased as a gift for our son who is a Field Artillery Officer in the Marine Corps. He really likes it as it has such a history of artillery throughout the years. Very nice!