"Captured Austrian cannon" Topic

After Austerlitz it is possible the French added captured guns to the Grande Armee. For example I Corps had several Batteries of 3lb guns, which were not in the French ordinance from what I can find. Would the French have taken off the black paint from the captured barrels or left it on?

At Auerstadt I know that the French 3rd Corp had Austrian 12lber's. I don't think they were repainted though.

If you're taking guesses, my guess is that it's a factor of time. Pick up a captured gun at Ulm, you MIGHT repaint the woodwork even on campaign ahead of Austerlitz just to make sure everyone understands what side it's on. You almost surely would before Jena or Friedland. But stripping the barrel is a lot of work and--since the French didn't polish barrels--doesn't make it more obviously French ordnance. It would probably be done in some slack summer when the sergeant is looking to keep his gunners occupied. Ahead of 1812, say.

'I Corps' Bernadotte was the only French corps equipped with AN IX 6 pounders during 1805 and Austerlitz, and it is a shame the corps was not in combat to know how they may have functioned; not sure what need they had of captured 3 pdrs later.

Certainly, of the 1000 or more Austrian ordnance captured at Vienna and Brunn the 3pdrs dragged to the 'Santon' were used. Looking at the 'delicate' situation of the campaign balance, I'd doubt any consideration was given to aestethics or 'ownership' at the time.

Their use by 1809 [IIRC] as battaltion guns was heavily criticised, as were even the French own Gribeauval 4 pounders and being 'under powered' in combat.

And as usual, ammunition comes into play. Bore tubes were not the same, nor was windage of ball etc.
FWIW d

Wouldn't the paint have been burned off during firing?

Seems the sources I have been using for the 1806 GA list the HS Artillery units in I Corps with the 3pounders. They list 16 3# in the I Corps, and 4 in the V Corps, which I both currently have completed. I also have VII Corps, but there aren't any listed for it.

I thought that most of the Regimental Artillery Companies added to Infantry Regiments getting ready for Russia in 1811-12 were equipped with ex-Austrian 3pdrs.

1st corps used Hanoverian guns