"How many men in artillery batteries?" Topic
11 Posts
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mrabbit | 06 Aug 2010 1:43 p.m. PST |
Ok a bit of a "new to the era" question. What was the average paper strengh (I know campaign losses will have reduced this) for artillery batteries of all nations in the Napoleonic wars between 1800-1815? I'm looking for ball park numbers here. My limited "research" (2 books) has come with either 120-140 men or 800 men(!). I suspect the latter figure (if true) includes sappers. Any offers? Thanks mrabbit |
Larry R | 06 Aug 2010 1:54 p.m. PST |
It depends on the size of the artillery, the heavier the batteries the great number of troops. Also differences by nation. 12 lb batteries had a crew of 15 per piece, 4 lbs had 8. |
4th Cuirassier | 06 Aug 2010 2:22 p.m. PST |
Mercer's RHA battery had 166 men. 120 to 170 is about right for a "battery" i.e. field brigade of 6 to 8 guns. Around 12 men per battery would be bricoliers. |
138SquadronRAF | 06 Aug 2010 2:24 p.m. PST |
I would put the strength in the range of 120-160 of an 8 gun battery. The similar figure o the 100 – 120 men for a 6 gun Union battery from the ACW. |
1968billsfan | 06 Aug 2010 3:58 p.m. PST |
I think they are asking how many men man the gun as well as how many men hold the horses, how many man the cassions, how many are farriars, how many drive the supply wagons and the like. Some interesting things on the internet: Monhaupt's ‘About the use of horse artillery' link link link link link and the always well presented link "In 1807 company of foot artillery (8 pieces) consisted of: = 2 captains (in battle one was with the guns, and the other with the 2nd and 3rd line of caissons) = 2 lieutenants = 1 sergeant-major = 4 sergeants = 4 corporals = 1 furrier = 2 drummers = 24 gunners of 1st Class = 45 gunners of 2nd Class Each company had 1 fanion" |
10th Marines | 06 Aug 2010 6:23 p.m. PST |
The frustrating answer of 'it depends' is appropriate for this question. For example, a French foot artillery company was usually composed of five officers, six NCOs (note: corporals in the French service were not considered NCOs during the period), one drummer, and 81 enlisted artillerymen. A horse artillery company consisted of four officers, five NCOs, two trumpeters, and 65 enlisted artillerymen (it should be noted that a foot artillery company served a division of eight field pieces while a horse artillery company one of six field pieces). These numbers do not include the train company that would be 'brigaded' with the artillery company it supported. Prussian 6-pounder artillery companies after 1807 were composed of five officers, one surgeon, two artisans, fifteen train troops, and 136 enlisted men. The 12-pounder batteries had the same except that there were 201 enlisted men assigned. The howitzer batteries had five officers, one surgeon, fourteen train troops and 167 enlisted men. British artillery brigades and troops (foot and horse artillery, respectively) underwent certain modifications during the Great Wars. The organization of a British artillery company/brigade in 1799 was five officers, eight NCOs, three drummers and 105 other ranks. In 1808 that had changed to five officers, eight NCOs, three drummers and 125 other ranks. Horse artillery troops had different organizations periodically though the wars, but a typical troop had five officers, eight NCOs, one trumpeter, and 146 enlisted men. All of the artillery companies had men from the Driver Corps assigned to them and that strength is reflected in the totals above. Sincerely, K |
Frederick | 06 Aug 2010 7:11 p.m. PST |
As noted, it certainly depends For the Brits, in 1815 a foot battery was supposed to have 5 officer, 97 other ranks for serving the guns and an officer and 87 other ranks from the Corps of Drivers For the Austrians, it depended on the type of battery, e.g. a 6 pdr support battery had 4 guns and 2 howitzers with 20 gunners and 46 Handlanger, a brigade battery 8 guns with 32 gunners and 32 Handlanger So – as noted, quite variable |
mrabbit | 07 Aug 2010 3:29 a.m. PST |
Many thanks for all this info. gentlemen. Much appriciated. mrabbit |
Trajanus | 07 Aug 2010 9:02 a.m. PST |
The thing that always impresses me is the number of horses involved when you take limbers and battery wagons, spare horses etc into account. A six RHA gun troop had way over 200 just on its own! |
138SquadronRAF | 07 Aug 2010 9:43 a.m. PST |
Trajanus, The rules that I use for Napoleonics – 'Napoleonic Command' – reguires an artillery battery in column of march to be represented by both gun/limber and caisson. I column of march a battery will take up a considerable amount of space and make deployment suitable time consuming: link link link Elliott |
Mike the Analyst | 07 Aug 2010 1:53 p.m. PST |
Elliot / 138, good to see artillery columns clogging up the road. For games involving an approach march onto the field of battle the placement of artillery in the column can / should make a big difference. |
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