"ammo boxes" Topic

One question aboutamunition boxes on guns cariages.

1. Were they detached during the fight ?
In similar thread we supposed that they were. It would mean than most of wargamers are wrons, as they do crew manning the guns with the boxes on.

2. Close examination of photos (the best I found on Alte Fritz blog)
link
revealed that boxes had something that look like a plank underneath. I wonder if the plank was a part of the box or of carriage, I mean – how did the carriage look like after removing the ammo boxes. Were the axles "bare" or with plank on it ?

3. Final question: Did all three types of British guns (6pdr, light 12pdr on 5,5"howitzer) equipped with ammo boxes ? I ask because photo of howitzer in fort ligonier shows it without the boxes while other gus have them.

Any help with the matter above will be appreciated.

Here is a picture of the light 12-pounder at Fort Ligonier:

The "planking" is permanently attached to the axle of the cannon.

British 6-pounder with limber:

British Howitzer:

Link to blog here: link

Pictures are courtesty of Fort Ligonier and Der Alte Fritz's blog.

These are photos I've referred to.
If planking is attached to the axle, it means that howitzers hadn't boxes at all …

That is correct – at least not mounted over the axle. Howitzers might have had a ready box mounted on the gun trail, which would have been removed when the gun was deployed.

The ready boxes are removed when firing and placed several yards behind the gun. When the round is called for the ammo carrier opens the box, takes out the round, closes the box to keep out sparks, and advances the round to the muzzle. He inserts the round, which is then rammed down the breach by the rammer/sponge man on the crew. You'll often seem one box remain on re-enactment guns as that box only contains tools, not rounds.

Nothing is placed under the box except the good earth.

The boxes were often covered with cloth (linen or canvas, and bound by a copper band (no sparks).

Most gun models come with the ready boxes cast on as part of the carriage.

@ Augie the Doggie
Thanks for very interesting information.
What is the source of this ?
Do you know haw the ammo box for howitzers looked like ?

Here are some awesome photos of the Ligonier collection. I want to say I have also seen where the box goes between the trail, perhaps with a peaked lid.

Ooops, here the link:

link

On the 6-pdr at least, I think one of the boxes was a tool box.

@historygamer
wow ! what a plethora of excellent photos
and this one

shows howitzer with boxes on

Thank you
and thank you all for interesting discussion !

Just to make your head explode, not all howitzer carriages were configured to carry ready boxes:

link

Here is an interesting article. Note the painting of guns and ammo wagons behind them later down in the article:

link

Even more without ready boxes

link

honestly for all the AWI games I've played, we've never had a need for mortars. But I'm wanting to add a few to my collection. So what companies make mortars for 15mm AWI?

I purchased my mortars from Hallmark. Cohoerns. Howitzers I have are Old Glory.

Mortars or howitzers? Howitzers were often deployed in the field with other guns.

I have a scale drawing of such a British 6-pounder gun carriage in "Swedish style" that illustrates the basing of the twin ammunition boxes seen with the guns at fort Ligonier. See
link
Scroll down a bit.
Cheers,
Christian
crogges7ywarmies.blogspot.com