Название: Tools of War: History of Weapons in Early Modern Times
Автор: Syed Ramsey
Издательство: Alpha Editions
Год: 2016
Страниц: 296
Язык: английский
Формат: pdf, epub, mobi
Размер: 10.2 MB

Warfare of the early modern period is associated with the start of the widespread use of gunpowder and the development of suitable weapons to use the explosive, including artillery and handguns; for this reason the era is also referred to as the age of gunpowder warfare (a concept introduced by Michael Roberts in the 1950s). Shock weapons that extend or enhance the deadly force of the humans at close contact. These would include: clubs, axes, tomahawks, knives, swords, sabres, spears, halberds, and pikes. The most important surviving shock weapon today is the bayonet, although some might say it is a shovel doing double duty. Missile weapons that are hurled or projected over various distances to inflict destruction upon the enemy: slingshots, boomerangs, javelins, bows and arrows, crossbows, ballistas, catapults, and Greek fire.

This entire period is contained within the Age of Sail, which characteristic dominated the era’s naval tactics, including the use of gunpowder in naval artillery. Firearms are qualitatively different from earlier weapons because they release energy from combustible propellants such as gunpowder, rather than from a counter-weight or spring. This energy is released very rapidly and can be replicated without much effort by the user. Therefore even early firearms such as the arquebus were much more powerful than human-powered weapons. Firearms became increasingly important and effective during the 16th century to 19th century, with progressive improvements in ignition mechanisms followed by revolutionary changes in ammunition handling and propellant.

The two world wars of the 20th century sparked another revolution in the design of military weapons and weapons systems. At sea the torpedo was launched from a deadly new boat, the submarine. These vessels, with their unique diving and maneuvering abilities, visual and acoustical sensing devices, and sophisticated missile torpedos, were capable of locating and engaging targets over a wide range. They became dangerous adversaries to the traditional warship, whose strength had been measured not in maneuverability but in sheer size and firepower. Since 1945 the adoption of nuclear power and underwater-launched, airborne guided missiles has transformed the submarine into the single most powerful naval weapons system in existence.

This book has been written keeping in view the requirements of undergraduate and postgraduate students and research scholars in the area of weapons and warfare and Military history.

Contents:
Introduction
1. Early Modern Warfare
2. Premodern Weaponry and Armor
3. Renaissance-era Weapons
4. Early Modern Firearms
5. Semi-automatic Pistols
6. 18th-century Weapons
7. Weapons of World War I
8. World War II Weapons
9. Naval Artillery in the Age of Sail
Bibliography
Index