British Anti-tank Artillery, 1939-1945

The rapid development of the tank as an offensive weapon following its introduction in World War I gave artillery theorists cause for concern during the 1920s and 1930s. By the beginning of World War II anti-tank guns had been developed, initially at around 37mm and 2 pounds in weight of shot. By the end of the war, monster anti-tank weapons were being developed, able to penetrate an armour thickness of up to 200mm at a range of 1,000 yards. This book explores the British efforts to keep up in a war of development, which saw heavier and more powerful guns eventually replaced by experimental ideas in an attempt to stop the German onslaught.

Chris Henry has been interested in military history since he was a small boy. His interest in artillery developed during his time as a volunteer worker at the Tower of London, and he became Senior Curator at the Royal Armouries Museum of Artillery at Fort Nelson. Formerly the Head of Collections at Firepower!, the Museum of the Royal Artillery, he is now Curator of Explosion!, the Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy’s Hard, Hampshire.