"Russian Artillery" Topic

Did the Russians ever deploy a battery in smaller groups, say 2 of six guns, instead of all 12?

Thank you

I have read of them deploying in half batteries (6 guns) but nothing smaller.

The Russians deployed in 6 gun batteries or 4 gun sections normally of the same type.
Stephn

Was it common for them to separate into half batteries? I appreciate your answers!

Per Zhmodikov: TMP link

according to 1824 artillery regulations the unicorns were positioned at both flanks of their artillery company. The guns of a "battery" (heavy) company were placed into a battery in the following way, right to left: two 1/2 pud unicorns, four medium 12-pdr cannons, four small 12-pdr cannons, and two 1/2 pud unicorns.

Above is for the heavier "battery" companies – I take this to be practice post Arakcheev reforms circa 1805.

The light batteries would either be deployed – as artillery role – in full or half-batteries, or, if in infantry-support role, would be deployed in sections of two pieces flanking both heavy infantry brigade lines with the unicorns kept in reserve on either flank.

Horse artillery was probably deployed in half-batteries of six pieces.

All above is via the "common-sense" approach.

patrick766 wrote:

Did the Russians ever deploy a battery in smaller groups, say 2 of six guns, instead of all 12?

Yes, the Russians often divided their light artillery companies in groups of 6, 4, or 2 guns. The "battery" (heavy) companies were also sometimes divided in groups, but not so often as the light companies were.

Thank you, that is very helpful.

Patrick

To split the batter up on a game board I have increased my Russians to 4 gun models, 2 stands with 4 artillery men 1 gun and 2 stands with 2 artillery men 1 gun. All my heavy artillery are like this ( but as said above not usually done though at Borodino the 1st Position battery has only 6 guns) and still have quite a few light and horse batteries to expand.

Did the Russians ever deploy a battery in smaller groups, say 2 of six guns, instead of all 12?
Yes, the Russians often divided their light artillery companies in groups of 6, 4, or 2 guns.

During the battle of Borodino, various Russian officers peeled off 6 guns from batteriers from the large Reserve after its commander, A.I. Kutaisov was killed. [Alexander Mikaberidze, The Battle of Borodino]

That's Batteries, not batteriers, though I imagine they were peeled off too.

Addendum:
A year later and I am surprised at the ongoing questions like this where justification to minimise artillery is sought.

I've recently received [in 2020] the Yermolov diary translation and in that emphatically, artillery batteriesa are larger not smaller and habitually he cites for 1805-07 commanding/ using TWO horse batteries (or most of the pieces) of up to 24 guns as a tactical unit.

Also he noted, and I have never read this before, that those licorn/ unicorn type howitzers fired nothing but cannister shot in his cited battle descriptions (not in the Horse battery). There were no shells available, so were these glorified shotguns (4 of 12 field pieces/ 12 pdrs per battery) to protect the rest of the battery?

I also noted his insistence at both Eylau and Friedland snowy battlefields and conditions firing cannister, and that they emptied the coffers of it.
cheers d

did he? On what page?

Dave,

Where did you obtain the Yermelov diary translation?

K

Do you mean this (published in 2006)?
link

Hi Allen,

I thought that might be it, but there is little or no information on Russian battery employment.

K