"Their artillery equipment during the Napoleonic wars." Topic

Hello everyone,

During the Napoleonic wars, the artillery equipment and vehicles of the Spanish, Portuguese, Hanoverians, Dutch, Belgians and Brunswickers was that of the British?

Thank you.

Too broad a question, Paskal. For example, Spanish are on Gribeauval (same as French) until 1808. To the extent they were resupplied by the British in 1809-14, some of it MAY have been British made, but the British also refurbished captured French equipment and sent it to allies.

This certainly was done for the (Portuguese) Loyal Lusitanian Legion, for instance. Though I think most of the post-1809 Portuguese guns were British single-trail, I doubt they threw everything else away the day the first British gun arrived.

1809 Brunswickers had Austrian guns. There was no Brunswick artillery 1810-1814. I don't know who provided the 1815 guns. Remember there are huge quantities of French artillery strewn all over Europe by the time of the First Abdication. Men die in battle or of typhus, but guns are hardier.

Hanover is double-trail 3, 6 and 12 pd guns to 1803. Hanover's 1815 artillery appears to have all been British-made. I wouldn't want to swear to the first battery raised in the spring of 1813.

Anyone know for sure about 1815 Netherlands?

@ robert

I don't know, but for the reason you give – the surplus of French and other artillery all over the place – I'd think it likelier the Netherlands continued to use their previous kit. Everybody was skint; I can't see many countries buying more artillery when there was stuff that was good enough pretty well just lying around.

The Brunswick Artillery of 1815 had a mix of French and Westphalian guns bought from pieces that had been captured at Leipzig. Probably repainted blue?
Hanoverian pieces were supplied by the British. I think there is a memoir or letter that says the Foot Btys. had 9 pdrs at Waterloo.

Agreed for Waterloo Camcleod. It's that first 1813 battery which keeps me from saying "Hanover is British-equipped throughout 1813-15." Things were very improvised pre-Armistice.

And I agree with your reasoning, 4th Cuirassier. I'm just trying not to make the leap from "it would have been the smart thing to do" and "we know that's what they did." Many people--even smart, rational ones--sometimes do stupid crazy things. When I had 1815 Netherlands forces, the guns were ex-French, and if I had to raise more this year, that's still what I'd use. But I don't know for sure.

Paskal,

If you use the search function on this forum, you will find what you want.

The Dutch guns were double trail – not British block trail.

TMP link

TMP link

The Brunswick were bought after Leipzig – probably French.

TMP link

@robert piepenbrink:

Thank you for your clarification.

French artillery pieces for the Dutch-Belgians?

Were they 6 pdrs or 4 pdrs and 8 pdrs?

@ 4th Cuirassier:

The Netherlands continue to use their previous equipment?

In 1815?

Which?

@ Camcleod:

Well done and thanks for the info!

The Brunswick Artillery of 1815 had a mix of French and Westphalian guns (French and Westphalian guns are not identical?) bought from pieces that had been captured at Leipzig.

Painted in what color?

Probably repainted blue?

What kind of blue?

Were they 6 pdrs pieces or 4 pdrs and 8 pdrs pieces?

Hanoverian pieces were supplied by the British.

What colors?

@Trockledockle:

Thank you…

And for the Bavarians and Württembergers?

What materials and what color?

Thank you.

@ Paskal

My recollection is that the DBs had used French equipment and had enough left in 1815 to continue to do so. The links above suggest this was in a variety of colours.

@Paskal. Kingdom of the Netherlands 1815 is 6-pd guns with howitzers. This is almost surely true of Brunswick as well. Remember the French had themselves reverted back to sixes with the "An XI" system years before, leaving 4 and 8 pound guns to soldier on in Spain. You'd have needed to make a special effort NOT to have 6-pd guns, raising a new army in 1814-15.

Verbal descriptions of shades of blue can be tricky, but if you google Brunswick regimental flags, I would expect the guns to be the same shade of blue.

Bavaria. I once visited the German Army museum--Schloss Ingolstadt?--which specializes in Bavarians. I don't think they really know whether the guns were gray or medium blue for the Napoleonic wars, and it may not have been the same all the way through. I generally try to match the blue of the Bavarian flag. It's the Wittelsbach coat of arms, and it was not uncommon for the gun colors to reflect national or dynastic. See Habsburg Austria, Saxony, Denmark, Sweden, Bourbon France (sometimes)--or England before it went gray.

Very good and thank you all.