Gunfire!: British Artillery in World War II

by Stig H. Moberg

This book provides an insight into how artillery resources were established, developed and employed during the Second World War, using the British Royal Artillery as an example.

Beginning with an overview of the nature and state of readiness of the Royal Artillery on the outbreak of war, the book analyses in great detail the weapons available to the Royal Artillery, their technical functionality and their performance capabilities. With this knowledge the author then examines the organization, methods, procedures and tactics employed by the Royal Artillery. To complete this fascinating study, Stig Moberg looks at a number of key battles from the war to see how the artillery was used, and the effectiveness of its support to the British and Allied infantry, in campaigns in North Africa, Burma and Europe.

British Artillery of the Second World War is profusely illustrated throughout with photographs, maps, plans, graphs, charts and diagrams to demonstrate precisely how the British Artillery was used on the battlefields around the world.

Although I am an infantryman, and proud of it, I have many times said that the Royal Regiment of Artillery, in my opinion, did more to win the last war, more than any other Arm of the Service.
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery"

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 21, 2017

Reviews

[Simon Alford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Translated rather curiously from the original Swedish, but ignore the strange translations. This book contains gold !

It gives a technical history, how the surveying was done, flash spotting, sound ranging, radar techniques. Illustrates just how technical this arm is. How the guns and ammunition developed and worked. Field Artillery, Medium, Heavy and Airborne.

Fave quote - Russian Artillery will impress you, US Artillery will scare you .... British Artillery will kill you !

Also covers Normandy, Arnhem, Rhine Crossing, North Africa and Burma.

[Robin Braysher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hefty book, not just in weight but also content and the depth of research. Stig Moberg brings to the book over 40 years experience as a reserve officer in the Royal Swedish Artillery, so has the keen eye of a Gunner, but the detachment of someone who has never served in the Royal Regiment - although his admiration and respect for the RA is clear. The book could almost be called "Everything You Wanted to Know About the RA in the Second World War', because it goes from first principles (a brief history, organisation, the guns), through the practicalities of indirect fire, to an account and analysis of British artillery at key moments in the war (BEF 1949, Norway 1940, Second El Alamein, Overlord, Arnhem, Crossing the Rhine and Burma). Please note that the focus is field artillery (including medium and heavy) and that anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery are only covered in passing.

Before reading this my knowledge of the subject was superficial - I once built an Airfix 25-pounder! - but the logical organisation of the book and the clear way in which the author explains things (not to mention the meticulous referencing of the many figures, tables and maps) meant I grasped most things. Even if some of the advanced sciencey/mathy bits were beyond me, I certainly came to appreciate just how technical and professional the RA was during the war. They learned as they went along and became a truly war-winning weapon.

Mention has to be made of the 'idiosyncratic' English - an issue with the translator, not the author - but I didn't find it a problem. It certainly didn't hamper my comprehension of the book and, in fact, I found it rather charming and it made me smile. It is a very readable book - copiously illustrated and with excellent maps - and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in how the British Army fought in the Second World War.