In the first half of the 18th century the French had been the European leaders in artillery, possessing the only standardized range of pieces. These pieces, were sturdy but extremely heavy. This book shows how at the beginning of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), Austria seized the lead by introducing new light field pieces - the 3pdr., 6pdr., and 12pdr. guns - and some excellent light howitzers. Other powers adopted this new system, however no complete overarching methodology existed until the implementation of the Gribeauval system, which was to revolutionise the artillery of Europe and make possible the highly efficient field artillery of the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815)."
- ISBN10 0850453364
- ISBN13 9780850453362
- Publish Date 8 November 1979
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 14 May 2006
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Osprey Publishing
- Format Paperback
- Pages 48
- Language English