"Artillery of German Division in Spain?" Topic

I can't seem to get the search function to work for me today (being a bumbling OF in Texas!), and remember a great thread years ago that I did not print of save.

It told of the types of guns used by the German Division in Spain, notably at Talavera. Guns were from Baden and Hessen Darmstadt, and a horse battery of Dutch.

While I am asking, there was a division of two battalions each of the 4th, 7th and 9th Polish in the IVth Corps serving with the Germans and a division of French. Does anyone known how many guns, and type, they used?

GdeP

The German Division were using French guns as their exchanged their 6-pdrs at the Spanish Border. They were using Gribeauval 4-pdrs. I edited both volumes of Digby Smiths Napoleon's German Division (2012 and 2014).
Stephen

Hi GdeP,

The thread to which I believe you are referring was titled: Leval's Guns at Talavera; it is located at: TMP link

I began the thread as I was seeking to determine the color of the gun carriages used by the various German Division allies.

I hope this helps.

Pat

GdeP – I looked at the OOB for Ocana in November 1809 and the Polish don't seem to have organic artillery present (2 battlions of the 4th, 7th and 9th Regiment present). At Talavera I think only two battalions of the 4th Regiment were present so not surprising there were no Polish guns with them.

If the Baden and Hessian batteries exchanged their 6pdrs for French 4pdrs would not the 4pdrs be olive green?

Thanks, Dr. Summerfield. I must exchange my grey and mid blue 8 pdr guns (luckily not glued to the bases) for olive 4 pdrs! This olive color makes sense, Major Bloodnok!

Hello Jarhead! Thanks for the tread. I for one would enjoy an update on how you have fared in building the German division! I have focused since that thread on doing 15mm Austrian 7YW Old Glory figures; and 7 battalions of British in the Peninsula, 28mm Victrix. "Correct" Dutch, Nassau and Frankfort figures would easily bring me back!

Little armies: The thread I am seeking may have been from 2010 or earlier. It gave numbers of guns, calibers, losses at Talavera, and also talked about Polish foot and horse guns, and howitzers. That seems odd for just 6 battalions of infantry.

GdeP

Who makes these guns in 28mm?

It should also be noted that the French used captured Spanish Gribeauval 4- and 8-pdr pieces and these were painted in light blue.
Stephen

'It should also be noted that the French used captured Spanish Gribeauval 4- and 8-pdr pieces and these were painted in light blue.'

Source?

B

How many captured Spanish guns were available to issue when the German Divison went to Spain? Did the captured guns go to units in the field, to replace losses, or did they go to arm King Joseph's troops?

The French captured most of the arsenals in Spain. There was at least 200-300 artillery pieces let alone those captured from the various battles. The Spanish lacked the horses or mules to remove them from the field.
Stephen

What I was attempting to write was when the German Division exhanged their gun for 4pdrs (september 1808?), would there have been a large source of captured 4pdrs to give to the German Division?

It is likely that they were French rather than Spanish as they were exchanged at the border rather than in Spain.
Stephen

GdeP: Regret the delay in responding, deadlines were pressing down on me at work. My German Division is progressing painfully slow, but it is an enjoyable project. This thread has been a excellent source of insight on specific calibers for the contingent's artillery. Now the next challenge is locating French 4 lbr Gribeauvals in 28mm. The Wargames Foundry guns tend to be smallish when compared to Front Rank artillery. Perhaps I'll use Foundry French 6lbr models as 4lbrs and use Front Rank artillerists.

Always a pleasure to hear from you.

Jarhead

Hello, Jarhead,

If Front Rank guns are in scale with their troops, it appears they might work well with my old 30mm forces! I know that Foundry figures are just too small, more 25mm.

What maker of troops are you using for the German division?

GdeP

Hi GdeP:

True to the theme of the German Division, my miniatures are a conglomeration, not so very different from he folks they are supposed to represent.

Kingdom of Holland: Front Rank French 1806 Light Infantry with the drooping side plumes dremeled off and replaced with side pompon.

Nassau: Front Rank Nassau with only a few mods to the grenadiers to replace their colpacks with raphelms.

Hess-Darmsteadt: Front Rank French infantry in bicorns. I will sprinkle some shakos in there to represent the lucky ones who managed to finagle some replacement head gear. I decided to represent these fellows as they probably looked when they left home, but with some baggy Spanish trousers and cheap French replacement boots.

Baden: Old Glory Bavarians – The raphelms these figures sport are shorter than the Front Rank figures, so they are my low budget attempt to emulate the shorter Baden raphelms. I likewise enjoy the facial animation that these sculpts offer. I have converted some Front Rank Bavarian mounted officers and replaced the head gear with bicornes.

Frankfurt: I haven't decided upon figures for this group yet, but I'm considering Front Rank French 1809ish Light Infantry in campaign dress.

KOH Horse Artillery: Front Rank French Horse artillery with the plumes moved to the side and a mounted Perry French officer in bicorne. Still figuring out the deal with the guns after the info on this thread.

Baden artillery: TBD

Hesse-Darmsteadt artillery: TBD

Jarhead

Looks like a good set of compromises. Front Rank Nassaus are correct – no bread bag as the Perry's carry at Waterloo. Why not keep the colpak for the grenadier company? One of the grenadier carried the yellow colours.

GdeP

Hello, Captain Canada:

Here is an old thread about Napoleonic 28mm guns:

TMP link

Hi GdeP:
Regarding the Nassau grenadiers in raphelm versus colpack. I guess I'm trying to make my German Division look, the greatest extent possible, the way they appeared at Talavera. So my theory is that as they wore uniform items out, the lucky ones got resupplied from the French stores.

I suppose I pluck this theory from experience in the context of my five campaigns; when regulations may have changed on paper, but in some cases took years to make them a reality even in this modern age.

Pat