what I want to know . . .

[ritaxis]

I want a nonfiction description of the work of gunners using large artillery. I want a blow-by-bulow description of hsetting up, handling ammunition, firing, all the things that have to be done in the course of operation, cleaning, maintenance, etc. What do I find on wikipedia?

specs.  Nothing but specs.  And lots of words, but nothing about the work of the men operating the things. It's all so abstract.

Comments

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Muzzle-loading black-powder artillery? Or something more modern? And small pieces that can be pulled around by just a few horses, or the big ones in coastal forts (which were I think the same as the high end of what was used on ships at sea in the Napoleonic era)?

Not that I can point you at a good non-fiction source for any of those, but they're big differences.

These look like they might be useful, though they're the subtly different thing of instructions on how to do it for recreation and to today's safety standards.

http://ncwaa.com/ncwaaman.pdf

http://livinghistoryassn.org/safety_manuals/CW_Artillery_Safety_Manual.pdf

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

I need post-1890 technology, so breech=loading, if I understand properly.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, early breech-loaders, yes. I think there's a LOT less info on that around -- partly because they're not available to play with legally much.

Good luck.