maciek72 | 01 Sep 2014 11:32 a.m. PST |
I'm sure that this was discussed on this forum, but the conclusion is lost to me: Who manned the artillery limbers in different AWI armies ? As far I remember we stated that British use civilian drivers and Americans uniformed their drivers somehow. Still no information about Hessians and French. Could anybody help me in this matter ? |
rmaker | 01 Sep 2014 3:33 p.m. PST |
Everybody's drivers were civilian contractors. AFAIK, the only European army with militarized artillery drivers before the 1790's was the Ottoman. |
Brechtel198 | 01 Sep 2014 4:17 p.m. PST |
Some of the American artillery had artillerymen as drivers, but they were state units, not Continental. The British and the French both used civilians. The British didn't militarize their artillery train troops until 1794, the French in 1800. B |
Ironwolf | 02 Sep 2014 7:01 a.m. PST |
This brings up a question I have about limbers/wagons and civilian drivers. Now from what I've read and understand the civilian drivers delivered the cannons onto the battle field then fell back to safer area. So did the civilian drivers leave the limbers with the guns or take them with them when they went to safer location? I keep picturing in my head, the civilian drivers pulling the wagon/limbers with the guns onto the battle field. Then the civilian drivers just hop down and leave it all there for the crews to deploy them. Once the battle is over, they walk around until they find the canon, wagon/limber they were assigned to drive for. During the battle the crew used mattrosses to haul the gun and limber around when they needed to move? |
Augie the Doggie | 02 Sep 2014 11:23 a.m. PST |
Austria and Prussia had uniformed artillery drivers during the SYW. |
Ironwolf | 02 Sep 2014 9:03 p.m. PST |
If I remember my reading correctly, the british and fench did not have horse artillery until around 1793 or 1800. I asked this same question on another topic on limbers. I'm getting the idea limbers were used with larger guns of 12 lbs and up? The heavier gun and limber would be positioned together and for the most part not move during the battle. Once positioned, the civilian driver and horses would move off to a safe area. |
maciek72 | 03 Sep 2014 3:40 a.m. PST |
Thanks for anwer. BTW – ammo boxes – were they detached during the fight, or they were stil mounted on the cariage ? |
Ironwolf | 03 Sep 2014 5:56 p.m. PST |
from my readings and re-enactor friends have all told me they were detached during the fight. The boxes were set back and the bombardier would bring up the charge and shot for the matross to ram home. Here is a good PDF given to me on period artillery loading. PDF link |
maciek72 | 04 Sep 2014 10:57 a.m. PST |
@Ironwolf Wow ! Does it mean that most of wargamers are wrong ?! |
Ironwolf | 06 Sep 2014 7:27 p.m. PST |
Good question Maciek72, I always just figured they were detached. Main reason I wouldn't want a box full of explosive powder right next to flames an sparks when the gun was fired. I'm betting those manning the gun back then felt the same way? But a lot of miniatures have them attached?? I bet 90% of the miniatures are mounted with no care for the ammo boxes? SuperMax and historygamer are both well read on the AWI. (meaning they make a living off of studying history)Also I know Der Alte Fritz did a lot of research prior to sculpting his miniature line. There are many others on here who are well versed in AWI lore than I. So hopefully one of them will chime in. |
maciek72 | 07 Sep 2014 5:40 a.m. PST |
Take a look at this thread TMP link we found an answer. And I'm happy that I asked it BEFORE modelling my guns. |
Bon Homme Richard | 07 Sep 2014 11:30 a.m. PST |
The Fife & Drum artillery models have separate ammo boxes which gives you the option of gluing them on for travel by limber or not gluing them on to represent the firing function. |