"French divisonal artillery 1813-1815" Topic

Hi,

The batteries assigned to each infantry division would they be 6lb or 8lb?

Thanks

Ken

I believe the vast majority would have been 6lb by 1813. Think that in Spain they had older equipment so the 8lb cannon would have been around a bit longer.

My understanding is that so many 6pdrs were lost in Russia that they re-issued 8pdrs.

Most of the orders of battle that I have seen from the 1813 Central Germany campaigns have listed the divisional pieces as 6-lbr.

Jim

I think you would be just fine using either the 6lber or 8lber. They were supposed to be 6lbers but . . . they had to use what was available. I too remember reading about using 8lbers because of the losses in Russia.

mjc

Dear Ken
In 1813-15, the Division Artillery was the M1808 6-pdr and M1808 24-pdr Howitzer. All the AnXI ordnance on M1803 carriges had been lost in Russia.

Even in Spain the 8-pdr had become rare in the French Army by this time. Most of the remaining there were Spainish rather than French origin. In 1810, all 8-pdrs were ordered to be retired to garrison. The metalwork, axles and wheels were used on the carriages made for the AnXI ordnance. This has been termed the M1808 for ease. It was the AnXI gun tube on the modified M1808 carriage.

1:60 and 1:24 Plans of these will be published by NGA Archive next year. I am currently writing the explanation leaflet. Plans for the M1810 Saxon Artillery in 1:24 and 1:60 are now available through Gerard Cronin of GJM Figurines.

No 8-pdrs were re-issued in 1813-15. This was contemplated in 1814 by General Ruty in his report to Louis XVIII but not carried out. There were very few 8-pdrs left that had not been melted down and no suitable carriages. The metalwork, axles and wheels had already been used.

Over 1200 AnXI 6-pdrs were cast in the nine months to August 1813 alone.

Stephen

Hi,

Thanks for all your input – I was just curious and wanted to check before ordering some artillery for my 15mm French army. I suspect the differences in terms of barrel sizes won't be too striking between 6lb and 8lb.

"Over 1200 AnXI 6-pdrs were cast in the nine months to August 1813 alone."

Phew! the french military machine worked fast.

Thanks again.

Regards

Ken

Dear Kenny
The design of the AnXI 6-pdr is radically different to the Gribeauval 8-pdr. Tne AnXI gun tubes do not have astragals or re-inforcing backs. It is a simple tube. The carriage has only one rather than two trunnion positions etc….

Stephen