Field Artillery Training. 1914

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78053

Title

Field Artillery Training. 1914

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This 1914 British War Office manual provides authoritative instructions for training horse, field, mountain, and heavy artillery. It covers driving techniques, horse management, tactical employment in cavalry support, and siege operations, emphasizing discipline, mobility, and coordinated fire.

Summary up to 500 words

Published by the British War Office in 1914, *Field Artillery Training* establishes the foundational principles for training and leading artillery units, covering Horse, Field, Mountain, and Heavy Artillery. The manual dictates that training must be progressive and continuous, strictly forbidding practices that deviate from its principles to ensure successful cooperation in war. A significant portion of the text addresses the training of young horses, emphasizing gradual physical development to prevent injury. The training process is divided into three stages: establishing free forward movement, balancing and collecting the horse for agility, and finally teaching the animal to work quietly in a team. Instructors are instructed to exercise patience, firmness, and pluck, rewarding progress immediately while avoiding temper loss or premature rushing of the animal. The manual provides exhaustive detail on the practicalities of driving, including reversing in narrow roads, managing horses from the box, and the precise handling of reins and whips. Drivers are taught to sit square on the box, maintain a rounded wrist, and hold the whip sparingly, applying it only to the shoulder. Specific techniques are outlined for driving up and down hills, ensuring brakes are applied correctly to prevent skidding or accidents. Tactically, the text distinguishes between shock tactics for cavalry and fire support roles for artillery. Commanders are instructed on reconnaissance, selecting concealed positions, and determining the critical timing for opening fire to maximize effect against enemy cavalry or infantry. The manual stresses the importance of concealment until the last moment to achieve surprise. It details the employment of mobile artillery in the attack and defense of fortresses, noting a strategic shift from field guns to heavier howitzers for destroying permanent works. In siege operations, field artillery supports infantry assaults, while howitzers target enemy armament and works. Throughout the document, the emphasis remains on rapidity of fire, maintaining mobility to adapt to rapidly changing battlefield situations, and ensuring effective communication between cavalry and artillery commanders during charges, pursuits, and retreats.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Great Britain
• Military History