Weapons of the Trench War: 1914-1918

by Saunders, Anthony

• ISBN13: 9780750918183
• ISBN10: 0750918187
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-04-01
• Publisher: Sutton Pub Ltd

Summary

Trench warfare was a particularly horrific feature of the First World War, notably on the Western Front. The author looks at innovation in the trenches, the weapons and associated equipment designed to overcome the problems of trench warfare at trench level, including ideas that were never put to practical use. Much of the research material is drawn from UK patents for these weapons (a unique and unexploited source), combined with other official documentary sources and personal memoirs that refer to them in use. Numerous illustrations support the text.

Author Biography

Anthony Saunders is a graduate of Brunel University and worked in the Principal Directorate of Patents, MOD, for six years. He is now a freelance writer and editor

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vi
Introduction	vii
Jam-Tins, Pitchers And Balls--Hand Grenades 1914--15	1	(27)
Drainpipes, Toffee-Apples and Flying Pigs--Trench Mortars 1914--15	28	(23)
Rubber Bands and Springs--Catapults 1914--15	51	(16)
Mills and Patent Hand Grenades 1915--16	67	(20)
Timed Eggs and the Elusive Percussion Grenade 1916--18	87	(8)
Rods and Phosphorus--Rifle Grenades and Chemical Grenades 1914--18	95	(13)
New Ways to Throw New Bombs--Grenade Launchers 1916--18	108	(16)
A Tale of Two Stokes--Mortars 1915--18	124	(18)
Oil Cans and Projectors--Livens, Flame and Gas 1915--18	142	(15)
Winners and Losers	157	(4)
Appendix Patents Tables	161	(8)
Sources	169	(2)
Index	171