Book review NAVAL ARTILLERY French navy 1650-1850" - NEW ENGLISH VERSION - by Jean Boudriot and Hubert Berti

Uwek

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Book Review:
NAVAL ARTILLERY French navy 1650-1850

An Historical and Technical Study Set of 93 plates.
NEW ENGLISH VERSION

by Jean Boudriot and Hubert Berti
Translated by François Fougerat


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This book in french language was over a long time one of the Basic Books published by ancre.
Since short time it is now also available in english or italian language.
Here shown is the english copy


available by ancre via

https://ancre.fr/en/basic-books/12--artillerie-de-mer-france-1650-1850.html#/langue-anglais

Synopsis:

A knowledge of artillery is essential to the understanding of the evolution of the military navy, since the combat ship was basically for its artillery.
From the bronze cannon bearing the arms of Richelieu in 1636 to the 36-pdr howizter of the same year to the Paixans model of 1849, this study follows the intricate evolution of these weapons step by step. After studying iron and bronze barrels, we turn our attention successively to mountings, portholes, rigging and the use of cannon. The description of pieces of ordnance with explosive shot - howizters and mortars - are another important aspects of this group complemented by a description of light artillery in tops and on bulwarks.
We approach our subject from the practical standpoint of the descriptions of materials and their uses. Research on ballistics and metallurgy is only cited in passing, although we recognize the importance of these areas.
True to form Jean Boudriot gives special emphasis to drawings. Plates of general views and detailed sketches abound in the fact-filled pages of this exhaustive study.
The excerpts we present here warrant that ship's model builders and amateurs of naval history will be more than pleased with this volume.
With singular exceptions, the traditional inferiority of the French navy vis-à-vis its rivals often provided the stimulus necessary for successful innovations. For instance, the French bomber galiots or the Paixhans howizters come to mind. On the other hand the French often adopted inventions and practices of the British Navy, their arch-rival, such as the general adoption of carronades in 1804, twenty years after the taking of Hébée and the failure of sea-borne howitzers.
All of the above evolutions are presented in this study of naval artillery.
With access to primary sources and archives becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, we complete our presentation in the text with a lavish set of 93 facsimile plates that reproduce the essence of the original naval iconography in French archives.

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PRESENTATION OF THE WORK
A large volume, 24 x 31cm format, full blue-grey cloth binding, laminated inside dust jacket
illustrating the between decks of a combat ship of the First Empire.
200 pages of text with numerous plans, perspective sketches
and representations of historical documents.
Three plates reproducing the essence of the relevant archival iconography,
including many unpublished documents.
Plans and drawings in the text are generally at 1:20 scale; the plates range from 1:10 to 1:25 scale.
The text is printed on 135 gr paper and the plates on 115 gr paper.

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Contents:

Chapter I
Cannons
Iron cannon
Bronze cannon
Manufacturing the guns
Use of different calibers.
Chapter II
Gun carriages
Gun carriages 1647-1758
Gun carriages 1763 -1786
Gun carriages 1786-1820
Gun carriages after 1820
Chapter III
Portholes
Chapter IV
Rigging and arming the guns
Chapter V
Using the guns
Ammunition
Stocking and storing of powder
Using the gun
Primary principles of combat
Aggressive manoeuvers
Moorings
Chapter VI
Pieces of ordnance with explosive shot
The howizter of a 1787 ship
Carronades
Carriages
Rigging and arming the carronades
Ammunition, manoeuvring and using the carronade.
Chapter VII
The Paixham-model howizter
Howitzers
Howitzer carriages
Portholes for the howitzer
Rigging and arming howitzers
Ammunition for and use of the howitzer
Paixhan's reflections of the navy
Chapter VIII
Mortars
Chapter IX
Mortar-bearing ships
Bomber galiots
Mortar bearing ships other than the bomber galiot
Chapter X
Light artillery in the tops and on bulwarks
Swivel-guns
Blunderbusses
Grenades
Fireballs
Chapter XI
The artillery park of Toulon
Chapter XII
Two centuries of evolution
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Comments and Review:

In the four books compentium of the 74-gun Ship from Jean Boudriot you can find already a lot of information about guns and gunnery.
This book was all the time one additional basic book, explaining the guns and gunnery of the french ships in all details.

Now after a longer time is the english translation available - take a detailed look at the Look Inside photos, and you will realize, that all aspects are covered and shown in sketches and drawings. In addition, at the end of the book, a huge number of reprints of contemporary drawings are added to this compendium.
To show the completeness of this publication I included here some more Look Inside photos than usual.....

For me a must-have publication, if you want to equip your model with the correct and detailed guns - It is Highly recommended publication


Further LOOK INSIDE pages

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to be continued on the following post with the attached contemporary drawings....
 

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Part II of Book Review:
NAVAL ARTILLERY French navy 1650-1850

An Historical and Technical Study Set of 93 plates.

NEW ENGLISH VERSION

by Jean Boudriot and Hubert Berti
Translated by François Fougerat



Excerpt from the contemporary drawings:

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Many Thanks for your interest
 

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A friendly Hallo from Vienna to Berlin.....
I checked the content of the book and did not find any drawing of the 48pdr gun of 1668.
There is a table which mention, that there were 2 pcs of this caliber existing in the whole french Navy (from 1661), but there is now drawing.
What I found is a contemporary reprint of a table / drawing showing two barrels dated 1668 with the all the beautiful ornaments.
Did you check already the content of the ancre book written by Lemineur
THE SHIPS OF THE SUN KING or french VAISSEAUX (les) du Roi Soleil ?
 

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Hello Uwe, no I have read at The French navy that the ROYAL LOUIS (1690) had such gund aboard and gave them away to the costs fortification at Brest as they were to heavy for a useability in sea battles.

The other books I do not own.

Is there anything in for my second closest project to the Heller SOLEIL ROYAL kit a rebuilt towards the 1668 ROYAL LOUIS or DAUPHIN ROYAL... the 36pounder? Is there anything in?
 
This book is about the general armament of the french Navy during the described periods.
So there is usual not a link to a special ship or vessel, but detailed description of guns, barrels, carriages etc. described in detail for different time periods.
Maybe Lemineur´s book is helping here, unfortunately I do not have it personally.
 
Hi im looking for further details of the carriage for a 1786 model 36 cannon as i have to make 3 for a museum
 
Hi im looking for further details of the carriage for a 1786 model 36 cannon as i have to make 3 for a museum
Hallo David,
welcome to our forum.
I guess you mean the 36pdr ? I will take a look asap
 
Hi im looking for further details of the carriage for a 1786 model 36 cannon as i have to make 3 for a museum
Hallo David,
I think I found some very interesting information and data in the book for your needs.
I hope, that we will hear from you with the description of your work and result on these carriages.

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As I mentioned before in the book review - this book is a great help in questions around guns - highly recommended
 
Hi uwek thank you for the information it is greatly appreciated, I will post pictures of the work in progress and the completed carriages as they progress.
 
Hi Uwek. I have this book in French and if you run across any one that would trade a english version for a French version let me know will you please. Gary
 
Hi Uwek. I have this book in French and if you run across any one that would trade a english version for a French version let me know will you please. Gary
Sorry but me not - I am very happy, that I have the english copy - crossing the fingers, that you will find somebody, but I guess you have to sell the french and buy the english one..... the price at ancre is the same
 
Dear David
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Birthday-Cake
wish you all the Best, Happiness and enjoyment from building ships
 
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