"Artillery Formation Terminology" Topic
11 Posts
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Okiegamer | 28 Oct 2016 12:03 p.m. PST |
I'm working on a set of homegrown rules for the 18th & 19th centuries and was wondering if anyone could help me with a terminology question. For my artillery batteries, I want to distinguish between the two basic formations – battery front (which is equivalent to an infantry line formation in which the guns are side-by-side) and column (in which the guns are limbered and moving one behind the other). I was just wondering if there is a period term for "column" that would be more appropriate for artillery. Can anyone suggest any? Thanks! |
JimDuncanUK | 28 Oct 2016 12:43 p.m. PST |
I think you have used up most of the standard words already; (road) column; limbered (up) column. |
inverugie | 28 Oct 2016 1:25 p.m. PST |
'Deployed' (in line), or 'moving' (limbered, in a trail formation – not a column because that is a regulated spaced formation rather than a gaggle of horses, limbers and guns). |
JimDuncanUK | 28 Oct 2016 1:42 p.m. PST |
What makes you think that a column of limbered artillery could not be a regulated spaced formation? They often would be under effective command of their officers and therefore quite capable of proceeding in an ordered fashion. Have you read any memoirs of artillery officers? |
McLaddie | 28 Oct 2016 3:42 p.m. PST |
Jim D has the right of it. A column of limbered artillery had to be 'regulated' in both spacing and leads if they were going to be able to deploy quickly and effectively. Believe it or not, the artillery followed the same 'regulating unit' practices that were used by the infantry and cavalry. So there was always a gun and section that an artillery company used in moving and deploying. That means, even down to the position of honor on the right for the senior officer of a section. |
AICUSV | 28 Oct 2016 5:51 p.m. PST |
The only other term that I have come across is, "in battery" generally meaning the guns are deployed. |
attilathepun47 | 28 Oct 2016 10:15 p.m. PST |
This does not relate to your original question, but just to be clear on terminology, in the early 19th century and before, a battery was a gun position, not a term for a unit equivalent to a company. In both the British and American artillery services up through the Napoleonic era, the term for the basic artillery unit was "company," except that the Royal Horse Artillery used the term "troop." Also, foot artillery companies were used interchangeably to man garrison, siege, or field pieces, and did not have permanently assigned guns, vehicles, teams or drivers; so the British (confusingly) used the term "brigade" to designate the whole assemblage of personnel, guns, horses, and vehicles when a company was employed in field service. I will not attempt to go into the foreign language terms employed by the European Continental powers. |
rmaker | 28 Oct 2016 11:04 p.m. PST |
In Battery and Limbered are the words you seek. |
Martin Rapier | 29 Oct 2016 1:32 a.m. PST |
As above, limbered guns are termed "limbered". Deployed is less of a mouthful than "in battery", but whatever floats your boat really. |
Old Contemptibles | 29 Oct 2016 12:04 p.m. PST |
No formation, either limbered or unlimbered. Depends on the scale. |
Brechtel198 | 04 Nov 2016 10:15 a.m. PST |
The Prussians, Russians, and Austrians all used the term 'battery' for a company-sized artillery unit. The British term used was brigade for foot artillery and troop for horse artillery. The French and Americans used the term company, and the term battery for these two nations' did in fact denote an artillery position regardless of the number of guns in the position. French artillery units were assigned their guns and the train companies were usually, if not always, assigned to the same gun company which was then what is termed now in general usage the 'firing battery.' In the French service, those artillery companies that were assigned for siege, etc., duty were usually found in the army artillery parcs. |
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