Arming the Warship: Naval Weapons Technology and Gunnery from the Spanish Armada to the Cold War

by Iver P. Cooper

In the 16th century, warships engaged at close range, sometimes with yards touching, and small arms fire and hand-to-hand combat were at least as important as the "great guns." As time went on, the big guns became more decisive and increased in destructive power, range and accuracy. This book explores how naval armament, armor, ballistics and gunnery evolved from the 16th to 20th centuries from a scientific and technological perspective. It examines the functional aspects--the guns and their distribution on warships, the propellants, the projectiles and so forth--and examines the development of each.

491 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2024

Reviews

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the finest work I’ve ever come across, detailing the historical evolution of naval weapons technology. This book is organized by the features and functions of naval guns, but also contains historical details on other naval weapon systems, such as rams, missiles, torpedoes, etc. It contains details of technology tradeoffs and methods, as conditions and technology have evolved across the world. I also found this book to be very readable. It contains excellent graphs, charts, and illustrations that further clarify the histories. I Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of naval warfare and technology.