The Business of War in Great Britain
In Great Britain, private companies and the government did business with one another to provide military arsenals and navy dockyards. The war business was known rise and fall depending on the demand for defense and commerce. Though technology changed, relationships stayed rooted in personal contacts. This was due to investors being brought up in the upper and middle class, continuing to uphold their values and carry on tradition. In regards to any decisions made involving the military, the crown made a decision that was best for their country.
After the War of Roses, guns became the permanent weapon for the army and responsibility was handed over the control of these weapons to the Royal Arsenal. The nineteenth century saw Britain becoming the major arms dealer for the world, as many of its firms began to make major components for complete weapons systems. The Limited Liability Companies Act of 1856 made the investor’s only liability was what they already invested, not the debts of the company. Family firms increased and merged, such as the Birmingham Small Arms Company and Vickers and Armstrong. What set Britain apart from America was that Britain had no scandals in regards to the military-industrial business. This was due to many board members of private companies being former officers, and have been influenced to not breach honor among partners.
After the War of Roses, guns became the permanent weapon for the army and responsibility was handed over the control of these weapons to the Royal Arsenal. The nineteenth century saw Britain becoming the major arms dealer for the world, as many of its firms began to make major components for complete weapons systems. The Limited Liability Companies Act of 1856 made the investor’s only liability was what they already invested, not the debts of the company. Family firms increased and merged, such as the Birmingham Small Arms Company and Vickers and Armstrong. What set Britain apart from America was that Britain had no scandals in regards to the military-industrial business. This was due to many board members of private companies being former officers, and have been influenced to not breach honor among partners.
Gun Industry
The gun industry covered artillery and hand held weapons. Private works covered advanced work until peacetime, when the royal arsenals could learn the expertise and handle small demand. Gun founders were private family firms. Not only did they have the skills and could handle the compounds needed to make the weapons, but were also located in places where raw materials were abundant. Artillery was added to the arsenals; however canons remained with private foundries. Normally handlers were hired with the cannons, knowing how to mix powder, load, and fire them.
Gun work had collaborations with government and private experts. It was seen as highly technical for even military officers, so civilians stepped in because they had more expertise. The bottom line is, private firms and government facilities were allied in arms production for one reason: the economy. Though rarely reinventing themselves, these private firms were so large and were so informed on what they developed that they stayed afloat financially. In the end, war was and still is business.
Gun work had collaborations with government and private experts. It was seen as highly technical for even military officers, so civilians stepped in because they had more expertise. The bottom line is, private firms and government facilities were allied in arms production for one reason: the economy. Though rarely reinventing themselves, these private firms were so large and were so informed on what they developed that they stayed afloat financially. In the end, war was and still is business.
Dockyards
Royal Dockyards were established soon after, where the navy built and restored ships. Private constructors soon held the monopoly over the construction of small ships, like submarines, and built many larger ships. All work went to private yards because they were trained to be specialized in building to Admiralty standards. Destroyers were preferred over battleships and cruisers to foreign markets. Since the Royal Navy controlled the seas at the time, what Britain had, everyone else wanted.