"Secret Weapons of the Napoleonic Wars" Topic

Of possible interest?

link

Amicalement
Armand

A very easy read and highly entertaining. But the underlying message is that there were no truly "secret weapons" in that age (with the possible exception of Shrapnel, I would concede).

Aerial warfare, submarine attack, mechanised assault vehicles were all envisaged but beyond contemporary engineering and metallurgy.

Even 100 years later WWI was won by mass production rather than some sudden scientific breakthrough by one side. "Secret" weapons are soon copied, whether interrupter gear, gas, or tanks

Once a weapon is used in action, so the enemy knows of its existence and effects it surely ceases to be 'secret'?

Whereas the code-breaking at Bletchley Park and the construction of an early computer to break the German codes was kept secret from the British public for at least thirty years after WWII.

The fact that George Scovell had broken the French cipher so intercepted French communications could be read was certainly kept secret by Wellesley in Spain – that was his 'secret weapon'.

This was an interesting Old Guard secret weapon…. (smile)

Armand

Innovations, then…Spherical case shot, rockets (both land and naval), naval guns on pivots instead of the usual truck carriages…

I like that Dinosaur!

Dont forget the secret weapons in plain sight some of which were intangible; the corps system which took the Allies decades to figure out and use…oh and lance armed cavalry.

Glad you like it my friend!.

Armand

More Secret Weapons… (smile)

Armand