Product Description

The Austrian artillery of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars was a creation of the renowned Lichtenstein system of the early 1750s. This weight system produced a series of weapons of 3-, 6- and 12-pdr. calibre along with 7- and 10-pdr. Howitzers. In the 1780s they were joined by cavalry artillery guns with their 'Wurst' seats. In 1811 Austria also began the establishment of rocket troops based upon the British invention, whilst their heavy and siege pieces throughout the period remained the 12-, 18- and 24-pdrs. This title by David Hollins describes this system as well as its operational use throughout the period.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #506744 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-25
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

From the Author
Since my Osprey New Vanguard 72 on Austrian artillery was published, I have been asked several times about how the guns were aimed and had to say that the refs in the main artillery books are vague and no sights are shown on the tech diagrams. However, looking through the 1769 Okonomie (man uniform and kit drawings), I see why I missed it – it was hidden among those sheets! The Austrians used a handheld hausse sight measuring about 12in, which was carried by the gun captain in a leather pouch with the vent clearer and some dividers.
It has been claimed that Griebauval devised this sight, but like the claims about the double position for heavy barrels, the bricole rope, fixed/bound rounds and the lighter carriage set on a standardised system, all these features existed already on the 1753 Austrian guns and thus predate Griebauval (who only went to Austria three years after the Lichtenstein system was introduced and a brief look at Duffy: Instrument of War will show Griebauval had no input into the artillery, but worked on the Pioneer units).

About the Author
Dave Hollins was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1962. After graduating from University College London, he trained as a maritime solicitor and began his career in commercial shipping. He is a frequent contributor to specialist Napoleonic magazines and has written a number of books related to the Imperial Army and Archduke Charles. His previous work for Osprey includes Men-at-Arms 299: 'Austrian Auxiliary Troops 1792-1816', and Warrior 24: 'Austrian Grenadiers and Infantry 1788-1816'. Brian Delf began his career working in a London art studio producing artwork for advertising and commercial publications. Since 1972, he has worked as a freelance illustrator on a variety of subjects including natural history, architecture and technical cutaways. Some of his recently illustrated books have been published in over thirty countries. Brian lives and works in Oxfordshire.

Customer Reviews

A first in English
The author of this Osprey New Vanguard (NV) is probably the English language authority on the Austrian army of the period. It covers field and siege weapons under one cover and is an exercise in putting a quart into a pint pot such that the heavy equipment gets comparatively little coverage. How typical of Osprey to give two volumes to the British and French artillery, which are relatively well known, whilst limiting the Austrian, on which nothing significant exists in English, to a single volume.

The book follows the expected Osprey NV format with numerous monochrome photographs - those of the 6pdr, 12pdr and 6pdr cavalry gun and limbers from the Bildarchiv are unique - tables, diagrams and colour plates. Executed by Brian Delf the draughtsmanship of the colour plates is excellent.

The usefulness of the book lies in that it covers a subject which has had no significant exposure to English audiences before. For this reason alone it scores high. It is also important because Lichtenstein's was the first modern integrated artillery system and which remained the most comprehensive system of guns and ancillary equipment during the period, Gribeauval's notwithstanding.

There is no bibliography as such but a section at the end called 'Collections and Further Reading' which cites the usual English language sources, such as Rothenburg, but the provenance of the book is really contained in the Austrian primary and secondary sources most of which will be inaccessible to the average reader.

Constrained by the 48 page format, this book really should have been in two volumes but it is, nevertheless, the English language foundation document on the subject.

Austrian Artillery
Recommended as a starting point. It did contain the information that I required but will need more information in the future that this volume does not contain.