"ECW guns grapeshot" Topic

Any thoughts about ECW guns using canister/grape at close range. I am thinking in terms of game effect, ranges and effect. A lot tp ask, but an interesting discussion I think

thanks to you

martin

Make the range of grape shot one infantry move or maximum effective range of a musket. It looks like it was used like that historicaly.

I thought that grape out ranged the matchlock. It might matter the gun size. Sorry wish I could be of more help. Good luck.

I have a feeling (open to correction) that in this period it was mainly used by regimental guns, rather than the bigger pieces. Some rules factor it into the infantry shooting, others allow a slightly lower dice score to hit, reflecting its "force multiplier" impact.

I suspect folk who are better-read than me could give you contemporary descriptions, but in terms of scientific assessment of artillery fire, you would need to look at the Napoleonic period to get any idea of "standard" results or perceived effectiveness. And whilst the weapons themselves were not that different, ammunition, training and "best practice" would all have improved in the interceding 150 years.

By the Napoleonic period, gunners would anticipate using canister at 300 yards and below; an infantry unit moving through that distance against the guns could take 4-5 rounds, depending on their rate of march, the lie of the land, and the exhaustion level of the gun crew. ECW-era guns would take longer to load and the ammunition would possibly be less efficient.

Thanks all for the information. Quick and good

martin

If you can find it, William Eldred's Period manual "The Gunner's Glass" might be of use on ranges and firing rates.

My own impression is that hailshot was comparatively rare in the field with only small numbers of rounds available compared to roundshot and yes it does seem to have been restricted to the smaller guns- since these were the only ones that had a chance of reacting to a moving targeton the battlefield. Sieges a slightly different matter as it could be used mostly by the defenders to cover breaches or weaknessees in the defences- assuming they had the guns- as they did for instance at Basing House.
As for range- dpends upon the gun size but really small guns such as bases or robinettes wouldn't have enough bore for much more that the period equivelant of the ACW's "buck and Ball" say a small handfull of pistol shot. I'd think we are talking mainly of guns around the 2 to 4lb shot weight. Rates of fire are of course . slower than later periods. Ranges for hailshot- I'd agree around Musket range or a little longer depending upon the gun and how much detail you want in your rules.

I'd suggest, but have no evidence to back this notion up, that the windage of a typical ECW piece was greater than that of the Napoelonic guns. I've no idea if they used prepared charges either and the quality of power might also be more variable during the ECW as SM notes.

The gunners tended to be professional mercenaries who, on occasion, changed sides when captured and stayed with their piece. Again I'm sure the ability of the crews, mercenary or not, varied as well.

additional thanks to Elenderil, Andy and Timmo

martin

Timmo I'd agree with all of that- especially windage and powder quality. Charges were not usually prepared- so the rate of fire was slower- having actually used both I can say that loose powder does slow you down a bit . but"gunner" was a particular office most of the actual work was done by "matrosses" who were little more thsan specialist labourers. and might- in the case of the smaller regimental guns have come from the regiment the guns belonged to.