"19th Century artillery of the world - questions" Topic

I'm looking for a source or multiple sources of the artillery pieces used by the nations of the world (or at least the major powers) during the 19th century, more specifically from the mid-1800s onward. I can pretty much easily access the information about the cannons used by the United States during that time, but any help about what was used in Europe, Asia, etc. would be extremely appreciated.

Thank you.

Hmm. I guess I stumped the band on this one, eh?

Well, multiple is certainly the keyword. When there was a war it was easy -- any decent book on the FPW will give you anything you want for France and Germany in 1870 for example.

I'd love to hear differently, but outside of Warships, the sort of "Janes Weapons Systems" annuals just did not exist.

Outside of wars, you need some really specialized support. For example, living as I do in a former Imperial military base I can visit the library at RA Park (I think they allow civilians still) and work though the British manuals. Fine, they are in English and right here.

French? German between 1871 and 1914? Japanese? In peacetime? Unless some event has inspired a scholar to do and publish the research it's off to the archives and I hope you publish at the end.

Is there a US version of the Journal of the Royal United Services Institution? It was (possibly still is) a professional military journal that published through the 19th century and published articles on foreign technical progress as well as British. It can be a slog to extract data from that sort of thing, but at least it would be a start.

There is something by Ian Hogg, encyclopedia of artillery of something like that. I cant find my copy. It has a lot of nations guns listed, but I dont thing it goes as far back as you are looking. and I dont think it has that much info on any of them, just a table with basic data.

UIf I can find my copy I will give you a better title, I have not looked in it for a year or two.

Owen

OK fopund it, on the Roleplaying game bookshelf of all places.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Artillery, by Ian V. Hogg.

Unfoprtunetly, it seems to mostly cover 20th century guns. But as some of the earlier peies where still in action later it may cover much of what you want. For example under Austrians, the earliest guns covered are from 1880. But at least it does list specific Austrian guns.

Not the total answer, but perhaps it will help

Owen

Thank you for your reply, gentlemen.

Lentulus, I don't know if there is or was an American publication similar to the Journal of the Royal United Services Institution, but then again, I was not aware of such an organ in existence. Thanks to your reply, I've Googled and found at least one issue in .pdf format. I think I might have something in it that I can go on.

Badger22/Owen, thank you for your help. I'll see if one of my local libraries has that title. If not, then I can acquire it through interlibrary loan.

Thank you again, fellas!