The British military revolution of the 19th century : "the great gun question" and the modernization of ordnance and administration / Daniel R. LeClair.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

LeClair, Daniel R., 1961- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ordnance--Great Britain--History--19th century.

Ordnance.

Great Britain--Armed Forces--Ordnance and ordnance stores--History.

Great Britain.

Great Britain--Armed Forces--Equipment--History--19th century.

Great Britain--Armed Forces--Firearms--History--19th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (287 pages)

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2019]

Summary:

""From the Crimean War through the Second Boer War, the British Empire sought to solve the "Great Gun Question"-to harness improvements to ordnance, small-arms, explosives and mechanization made possible by the Industrial Revolution. The British public played a surprising but overlooked role, offering myriad suggestions for improvements to the civilian-led War Office. Meanwhile, politicians and army leaders argued over control of the countrys ground forces in a decades-long struggle that did not end until reforms of 1904 put the military under the Secretary of State for War. Following the debate in the press, voters put pressure on both Parliament and the War Office to modernize ordnance and military administration. The "Great Gun Question" was as much about weaponry as about who ultimately controlled military power. Drawing on ordnance committee records and contemporary news reports, this book fills a gap in the history of British military technology and army modernization prior to World War I."-Provided by publisher"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

"Pregnant with Disastrous Muddle"

"The War Will not last a Month"

"More Powerful Than the Charge of Cavalry"

"Steering among the Designs of Rival inventors"

"A new era of great guns"

An "epoch of Change and improvement"?

"New Measures Demand new Men"

Conclusion: "A Projectile to Be Fired by the Royal Navy."

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-4766-3859-4