Artillery and World War One

As World War One developed, the horrors of trench warfare saw the two sides locked in a stalemate. Tens of thousands of men were dying each week, and sometimes each day, leaving the commanding officers desperately searching for a solution to the problems caused by this new, static method of waging war.

Artillery was increasingly relied upon to break the stalemate, being frequently weaved into tactics and strategies in order to boost the impact each side potentially had on the other during battle.

During World War One, artillery achieved a new level of importance on the battlefield, developing rapidly as the war went on. During wartime, research saw the creation of new high explosive shells, an increased rate of fire and an extended firing range.

These advancements made it possible for artillery to hit enemy lines, firing along the line of enemy trenches - sometimes for hours at a time - and being used before an infantry battle to thin the enemy reinforcements and distract those on the front line from the approaching troops.

As artillery became more and more popular, commanders also ordered the development of brand new guns. Click on the links below to find out about some of the most notable artillery guns that played a role in World War One: