Napoleonic Naval Armaments 1792-1815

Chris Henry here provides details of the whole spectrum of armaments carried by the vessels of the Napoleonic era. The tactical use of these weapons, including the organisation of anti-tank units and their conversion from infantry to artillery is covered.

There were many elements to British Napoleonic naval success but one of the key factors was gunnery. Other countries developed different naval weapons to fit their maritime strategy. The French and Spanish systems developed on similar lines, while those of the Baltic navies tended to rely on smaller craft and weapons. Holland, during this period, was part of the French sphere of influence and this had an effect on the development of naval weapons. This title describes the systems of all these countries as well as the fledgling navy of America, detailing the gunnery skills that embarrassed the Royal Navy at the height of their dominance.

Introduction - Design and Development - Operation History - Variants - Colour plate commentary