"Austrian 3pdr Cavalry Artillery & 2 wheeled caissons" Topic

Can anybody tell me what Austrian 3pdr Cavalry Artillery (used ar Raab, at least, I've been led to understand), and 2 wheeled ammunition wagons, looked like?
Or, can you point me in a direction that will help me?
Thanks.

The closes I got is Duffys illustrations of SYW wagons, cassions etc. Probably really close to that of the Napoleonic period. These are in his books on the Austrian army.
William

Chouan,

Dunno if this helps or not but checkout:
1. link
for a piccy of the "horse" artillery of the austrians of the period.

Also if you are into 15mm figs there are some pretty cool figs from AB (via Nic R's Eureka minis) for modelling arty crew on the go. Checkout
link
There is a 6pdr Kavalleriegeschutz available but IIRC there was also a 3pdr version of the cav gun as well historically so hopefully the 6pdr model gives you an idea of what the 3pdr looked like (I thought only the barrel may be different).

HTH

cheers
Gary

Thanks, I hadn't considered that they might use the same carriage, although, given that the overall weight would be very similar, it begs the question, why bother with a 3pdr when a 6pdr is so similar?

Dear Chouan
The Cavalry 6-pdr did not have a cascabel. I can find no reference to Wurst 3-pdrs. Drawings of the Regimental 3-pdr and 6-pdr Wurst can be found in my book.

The 2 horse ammunition cart had not changed from that of the 7 years war. The 4 wheeled caisson can be seen in my book.

Stephen

Perhaps the publishers of the "Anschluss" series, and the authors of "Armies on the Danube: 1809" were wrong about 3pdr Cavalry Guns.

Dear Chouan
It would be interesting where they got their information from.

Stephen

Stephen I completly forgot about your excellant book. Yes indeed it does have illustrations of those.

I would recommend Napoleonic Artillery by Dawson, Dawson and Summerfield to all manufactures, there a dozens of illustrations but what makes them so valuable is that Stephen has included a scale with most.
William

Dear Keyser
As ever research moves on. Contemporary plans of the British Artillery to scale were published a few months ago. These are the only contemporary plans of the Desaguliers block trail, limber and caisson used by the RHA and eventually by the RA.

Stephen Summerfield (2009) Dupin's British Napoleonic Ordnance, DP&G of Doncaster.

Saxon Artillery 1733-1827 will be published in about a month by Partizan Press. The drawings have been drawn to 1:24 and 1:30 scale. These approximate to 77mm and 54mm figure scale approximately. These are to a much higher standard and in colour.

I am currently finishing an expanding range of 1:60 plans [side views mainly] of various nations starting with the M1801 Saxons in the Bunde Plate style for NGA Archive. These have been drawn by me or Norman Swales.

Future developments by NGA Archive will be decided by Gerard Cronin of GJM figurines.

Stephen

Perhaps the confussion came from the fact that a 6lb Cavallerie battery and one-half a 3lb battery were assigned to units.

No 3lb 'cavallerie' gun or carriage in Austrian artillery. The 2 wheel amo cart was widely used – with two or four horses.

See my posts in the Nap History section for materials.

Big Al

Dear Steven
Astute as ever. I had not checked the OOBs to see this. There are many mistakes in intepreting ordnance especially from French sources which seems to be the ones consulted by many authors.

Thanks
Stephen

I re-read the Armies on the Danube over the weekend. The authors state that they got their information from the Hapsburg archives…..

Dear Chouan
Can you please if possible be a little more specific. You may wish to ask John Gill as he has a much more complete knowledge of the articles and his books do not show the same interpretation.

Stephen

I'll try to give a more exact reference when I have another look at the book. I must admit that I can't remember there being a page reference or anything as detailed as that. How will I find John Gill to ask him?

Dear Chouan
He often appears on the Napoleon Series. There is a facility for members to send e-mails to each other. You could also contact me direct if you wish.

You could contact me through Gerard Cronin of GJM Figurines
gjm.figurines@btinternet.com

I am currently producing scale drawings of ordnance with him for NGA Archive. Initially at 1:60 scale.

Stephen

Reference is in "Armies on the Danube", Bowden & Tarbox, 1989, The Emperor's Press, Chicago. pp. 156 & 157.
Sources quoted by the authors:
Osterreichischen Kreigsarchiv, Vienna (K.A., F.A.1809, Italien); "Ordre de Bataille von 14, Juni 1809 bei Raab."
Hans von Zweidneck-Sudenhorst, Erzherzog Johann von Oserreich im Feldzuge von 1809, (Graz,1892), pp.248-254

It states that in FML Mescery's "Division", Hadik's Brigade, along with 2 Insurrectio Hussar Regiments there is half a 3pdr Cavalry Battery. Brigade Mesko of Davidovich's "Division" has 7 Insurrectio Hussar regiments and also has half a 3pdr Cavalry Battery.

Dear Chouan
I found my book by Scott Bowden finally. I am not convinced with his interpretation. He is superb upon French sources. The train of thought could be as the 3-pdrs accompanied the cavalry they must be cavalry guns hence wurst guns of the 6-pdr Cavalry Gun type.

I think that is flawed as I have not found reference to such a gun. These could be true horse artillery where the gunners were mounted. Also the Austrians could have operated with Wurst Wagons for the gunners. The limitations of true horse artillery is finding gunners who can ride horses. This is not an issue amongst the Hungarians and their traditions.

Case not proven rather than a definitive answer alas.

Stephen