A good primer, though sometimes not error-free.
Examples:
-'On the other hand artillery crews often didn't wish to let the enemy get too close before bugging out.'
Guns were to be defended to the last extremity. A good example is the Austro-Bavarian cavalry charge against the Guard artillery at Hanau in 1813.
-'On the other hand artillery crews often didn't wish to let the enemy get too close before bugging out.'
Ricochet fire was developed by Vauban in the late 17th century for siege warfare and was later employed in the field to effectively double the range of artillery on dry and hard ground.
-'In addition several untrained men, often detached from accompanying infantry units, were needed to man handle the weapon into firing position.'
Although mentioned in period artillery manuals, in practice it only happened in emergencies such as Essling and Wagram among the French because of heavy losses to the gun crews.
-'A mid-period experiment with 6 pdr guns fizzled out.'
The French AN XI 6-pounder was used by both horse and foot artillery from inception until 1815.
-'Unlike most other nations the Russians used both a heavy and a light howitzer.'
The Russians had no conventional howitzer. They did have a gun-howitzer, the licorne, which could not elevate to the same height as a conventional howitzer.
-'Note that depending on exact period and nationality speaking of divisions and corps is a bit anachronistic.'
This comment makes no sense at all. The French began using the corps system as early as 1800 and it was employed through 1815. Everyone else, with the exception of the British, Portuguese and Spanish, developed their own based on the French system.
-'Sometimes provision would even be made for spare parts and tools for repairs. These extra wagons, horses, and men were sometimes called the "Train" and per battery they amounted to another hundred or so men, and twice as many horses and a half dozen wagons maybe.'
This is as confusing as it is generally inaccurate. The different armies handled the artillery vehicles differently, just as they did resupply.
-'In a sense for the Napoleonic Wars it also marks their high tide. Batteries were massed at Wagram, Borodino, Lutzen, Waterloo and elsewhere to good, but never the same, effect.'
That is incorrect. At Lutzen, Drouot obtained the same effect that Senarmont did at Friedland but with a much larger grande battery. The point is missed by the author.'
-'If an opponent allowed it artillery could now be used aggressively to decide a battle.'
The idea that 'an opponent would allow' artillery employment in combat is wrong-headed and inaccurate.
paints brigs for the British fleet.
