"Spanish Artillery 1808" Topic

I'm led to understand that the Spanish army at this point was very short of horses. Could I assume that Spanish Horse Artillery might lack horses for its gunners, but not for its officers, but might have sufficient draught horses, whereas Foot Artillery might have to use oxen or mules as draught animals?
I've also been led to believe that Spain used the Gribeauval system; would they also have used the same greenish colour for their guns?

The Spanish used mules and oxen when they could get them.

The Spanish gunners were not half bad. Much better than many rules make them out.

The problem with the Don's guns invariably centered around a lack of mobility.

mjc

Dear Chouan
The Spanish used the Gribeauval System. The 12-pdr was left in garrison due to lack of horses.

A foot artillery company would have 6-18 guns. Mostly pulled by oxen.
Horse artillery had 6 guns. Used mules. Poor quality horses. Although the horse battery sent to northern Germany had the full compliment of horses stripped from all the artillery companies.

They were dark grey or stained with black ironwork.

Spanish gunners were the best part of the army. The problem was that they had no transport to get the guns off the battlefield. They fought their guns to the last.

Stephen

If memory serves, they also militarised their train rather late, which contributed to the mobility problems that others have described.

Yes, they were poorly equipped and organised but the gunners themselves although maybe not experts at their trade showed an ability to fight well and high bravery. Their guns are poorly limbered and thus have limited mobility but they do make up for that in other ways. In our games we rate the Spanish Artillery as the best arm of their service and it does tend to show in our battles.

Shane

Dear Shane
The Spanish Artillery suffered with the equipment "designed" by Gribeauval. The Limber design was of the mid 18th century with small wheels and a high centre of gravity.

The guns were much heavier than they needed to be and sacrificed mobility. The AnXI system and its modified form was an improvement. The British System was modern and learned much from the AWI. The gun could fight without recourse to ammunition wagon unlike the French or Spanish.

The training of the Spanish Gunners were on the same lines as the French.

All armies in the Peninsular suffered from lack of mobility. The British had plenty of guns and gunners in the peninsular yet very few mobile batteries. The French did not use the 12-pdr and struggled in providing enough horses for the 8-pdrs. Much of their equipment was captured Spanish. The ordnance ratios were very low compared to Germany and Russia.

The RHA had to abandom the use of the excellent Light 12-pdr through lack of horses.

The Spanish mountains guns were sound and a number served with the British-Portuguese and the French.

Stephen

Who need horses and mules when you have Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra pushing the spanish big guns through the peninsula?.

Stephen, I do not have your artillery references but the new Osprey series on the Spanish of the Napoleonic Wars indicates there may have been other woodwork colors for their artillery carriages. Understanding the variety of equipment used during the period in Spain would it be appropriate to use the other colors mentioned (red and light blue)for variety? Thanks in advance for your kindness… Will

Dear Will
The Spanish Equipment should be light blue with black fittings. The red colour would be very old equipment taken out of garrison. Some carriages may have been un-painted through lack of Prussian Blue and White Lead.

I hope that clarifies the situation. Hopefully I will finish my article on the Spanish Artillery for a subsequent article for the Smoothbore Ordnance Journal.

Stephen

Stephen, Thank you very much for the clarification! Merry Christmas!!! Will