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BRITISH MILITARY HISTORY
THE TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT OF MACHINE GUNS AND TANKS IN
THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
Introduction by Shaun Corkerry MA.
In this volume are reprinted three of the most significant
British Army training manuals of World War One. They are:
SS 192, The Employment of Machine Guns.
SS 197, The tactical employment of Lewis Guns.
SS 214, Tanks and their employment with other arms.
Collectively the manuals deal with two of the defining weapons
of the First World War. The manuals are reprinted in their
entirety with enhanced diagrams and illustrations. There
are many interesting details revealed including how tanks
and machine guns were intended to be used in action, and
the care and maintenance of machine guns, especially the
Lewis gun. An interesting point is how much the limitations
of new weapons, particularly tanks, were recognized at the
time and how these limitations were intended to be tactically
compensated for. The introduction provides the historical
context for the introduction and use of machine guns and
tanks by the British Army, and gives background details
of the formation and histories of the Machine Gun Corps
and the Tank Corps.
290 x 210 mm, vii + 123 pages, tactical diagrams.
ISBN 978-0-85420-302-4 Hardback Edition £27.99
ISBN 978-0-85420-307-9 Softback Edition £17.99
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TRAINING OF DIVISIONS 1916
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TRAINING OF PLATOONS 1917
Two of the most influential British Army training publications
of World War I are published in this book. Instructions
for the Training of Divisions for Offensive Actions 1916
was originally published in December 1916 – these were the
“lessons learnt” from the Somme Battles of that year. Here
will be found references to the use of Tanks and Aviation.
There is considerable emphasis on the role of Artillery
and the need for it to closely cooperate with Infantry.
The planning and preparation of operations is discussed
in considerable detail.
Concern is expressed on the increasing use of hand-grenades,
as it was considered that this produced a defensive mentality,
emphasis is placed on the use of the bayonet. The use of
Infantry support weapons such as Lewis Gun, Stokes Mortar
and Rifle grenade, all of which had first appeared in 1915
are all discussed, as is the Medium machine-gun.
Instructions for The Training of Platoons for Offensive
Action 1917 was published in early 1917 with a number of
diagrams illustrating aspects of the platoon’s role in battle.
This publication makes it very clear that the platoon was
the “ultimate unit” in the assault. The platoon was considered
a self contained tactical unit. The principle of “fire and
movement” with the platoon sections equipped with specific
weapons to carry out the roles is illustrated.
In addition to the tactical instructions there is also a
platoon training programme to be used when the unit was
not in the front line. The diagrams that appeared in this
publication have been re-drawn with the various elements
reproduced in colour to enable the reader to clearly see
the various sub-units of the platoon, how they were equipped
and their use in different types of fighting. In addition
Shaun Corkerry has written an extensive introduction on
the Training and Tactics of the British Army in France during
World War I together with a bibliography and notes, this
explains the development of British tactics during the war
and demonstrates how such tactics were developed in the
face of the problems faced by the field armies in the trenches.
210 x 295 mm, xiv + 112 pages + 10 pages coloured diagrams.
ISBN 978-0-85420-245-4 Hardback edition £27.99
ISBN 978-0-85420-250-8 Softback edition £17.99
LOCATIONS OF THE REGIMENTS & BATTALIONS
OF THE BRITISH ARMY : 1st AUGUST 1914 AND 1st SEPTEMBER
1939
by Chris Kempton.
This reference listing has been put together
with the intention of serving two purposes. Firstly to provide
a straightforward locator for the regiments and battalions
at the outbreak of both World Wars and to clarify the positions
geographically on the maps, particularly in the case of
India where a number of stations are not easy to locate,
and secondly to give a brief overview of the relative strengths
and state of readiness in August 1914 and September 1939.
145 x 208 mm, iv + 54 pages, 3 Maps
ISBN 978-0-85420-956-9 Softback Edition £12.99
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