Brigand Pounder - Bandit Gun. French army
Fully machined, copper plated and blackened cast guns made Dmitry Shevelev, gold champion of the world and Russia in ship modeling. The author has his own outstanding style, his works are distinguished by historical authenticity, artistic taste and the effect of antiquity.
To cast the guns, a dental alloy with a melting point of 105 degrees is used, then the casting is mechanically processed to lathe, the channel is drilled, brushed, copper-plated and only then blackened. The process is not easy, but the result is amazing. There’s no need to even stutter about historical authenticity; a mosquito won’t hurt your nose. The master model of this gun was made according to drawings from the monograph Le Cygne by the French publishing house Ancre.
Technical characteristics of the gun:
- length 59 mm; - scale 1:48;
- caliber 8 pounds;
- channel diameter 2.2 mm;
- France, 1806;
- initial development for the Le Cygne brig model. Requires 2 pieces.
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Shotgun AN-IX
French 6- pound gun and 6-inch howitzers
However, even such a magnificent gun had drawbacks, such as insufficient reliability and a tendency to corrosion of some components. But the main thing was some difference in caliber of the guns produced and the need for individual fitting of parts. This created certain difficulties in creating and arming a mass army. Therefore, in 1801 the French adopted the AN-IX gun, which became the main one by the time of the invasion of Russia. This gun was almost identical to the gun of the 1777 model and differed from the old one by greater unification of parts and the replacement of corroded, but not load-bearing, iron parts with copper ones. In addition, it was possible to slightly reduce the weight of the gun.
Perhaps the excellent capabilities of the 1777 model gun had an effect, but less attention was paid to rifled weapons in France. The main type of rifled weapon was the "Carbine de Versailles" model 1793 in infantry and cavalry versions. It was only in 1804 that a slightly improved AN-XII carbine was developed, which differed only slightly from the Carbine de Versailles. The saturation of the French army with rifled weapons was somewhat lower than the Russian one. Non-commissioned officers, sergeants and sappers from light infantry and 6 riflemen in a voltigeur company were mainly armed with rifled carbines.
The characteristics of the main guns in service with the French army were as follows.
Shotgun AN-IX. Its weight (without bayonet) is 4.375 kg, length 151.5 cm (bayonet length 46.5 cm). Caliber – 17.5 mm, bullet weight – 27.2 g, gunpowder weight – 12.24 g. Maximum range shooting 300–400 steps, effective aimed shooting range (probability of hitting a standard target is more than 1/2) – more than 100 steps.
Rifled carbine "Carbine de Versailles": Its weight (without bayonet) is 3.45 kg, length is 102.5 cm. Caliber is 13.5 mm, bullet weight is 17.5 g, gunpowder weight is 4 g. Maximum range is approximately 1 thousand steps, effective aimed shooting range (probability of hitting a standard target is more than 1/2) - more than 500 steps.
In the field of artillery, the French army held a leading position for a long time, which was not lost in the quarter century that passed after Gribeauval's reform. But Napoleon, himself an excellent artilleryman, noted the presence of excessive calibers in the Gribeauval system. For example, Napoleon pointed out that in most cases, when firing, commanders do not make a difference between 8-pounder and 4-pounder guns. At the same time, the 8-pounders are too heavy, and the 4-pounders have weak ammunition. As a result, it was decided to settle on a 6-pound gun, which should replace both calibers.
It was also decided to switch to a new howitzer with a longer barrel length and a smaller caliber. This made it possible to increase the flatness of the trajectory and more effectively use these weapons in maneuverable field combat. In addition, this made it possible to unify the ammunition with the 24-pound siege gun.
Finally, Colonel Villentroy created heavy long-range howitzers with an increased powder charge and barrel length. These howitzers had calibers of 8, 9 and 11 inches. At the same time, the most powerful 11-inch howitzer could fire at a distance of up to 5.8 versts. The 8-inch howitzer was also used in field battles. In addition to changes in the calibers used and barrel lengths, the guns of the new models were lightweight and simplified in design.
The reform was supposed to bring French artillery to a new qualitative level. In fact, it was not carried out as decisively and effectively as in Russia. The reason was the slight superiority of French artillery over the artillery of most opponents, which already existed at the time the reform began. The “patchwork” nature of Napoleon’s empire and the lack of clear management of military production also had a negative impact. Many factories of Napoleon's empire, especially in conquered territories such as the Confederation of the Rhine, produced according to old models and in the old caliber system. So, in the end, the reform not only did not reduce, as required, the number of calibers in the army, but, on the contrary, increased it. Of the new guns, only the 6-pounder gun and the 24-pounder howitzer were fired in significant quantities. The “Grand Army” entered the war with more than two dozen artillery systems.
The characteristics of the main guns in service with the French army were as follows.
12-pounder gun of the Gribeauval system:
Gun weight - 860 kg (54 pounds), system weight - 2160 kg (135 pounds), caliber - 4.76 inches (121 mm), barrel length - 16.5 calibers.
Firing range: cannonball – 2.7–3 km, grenade – about 1.2 km, buckshot – up to 600 meters.
8-pounder Gribeauval gun
Gun weight - 580 kg (36 pounds), system weight - 1760 kg (110 pounds), caliber - 4.1 inches (104 mm), barrel length - 16.5 calibers.
Firing range: cannonball – 2.7 km, grenade – about 1 km, buckshot – up to 500 meters.
4-pounder Gribeauval gun
Gun weight - 280 kg (18 pounds), system weight - 1120 kg (70 pounds), caliber - 4.76 inches (121 mm), barrel length - 16.5 calibers.
Firing range: cannonball – 2.6 km, grenade – about 1.1 km, buckshot – up to 400 meters.
6-pounder gun of the new system
Gun weight - 400 kg (25 pounds), system weight - 1440 kg (90 pounds), caliber - 3.9 inches (96 mm), barrel length - 16.5 calibers.
Firing range: cannonball – 2.3 km, grenade – about 1 km, buckshot – up to 400 meters.
6-inch extended howitzer
Gun weight - 320 kg (20 pounds), caliber - 6 inches (164 mm), barrel length - 4 1/3 calibers.
Firing range: cannonball – 3 km, grenade – about 3 km, buckshot – up to 400 meters.
24-pound howitzer of the new system
Gun weight – 320 kg (20 pounds), caliber – 6 inches (155 mm), barrel length – 5 calibers.
Firing range: cannonball – 3 km, grenade – about 3 km, buckshot – up to 500 meters.
Although in general French artillery looked inferior to Russian due to the wide variety of calibers and the large number of low-power regimental guns, it had an advantage when fighting fortifications and manpower at long distances due to the presence of large-caliber howitzers and with a steep trajectory that made it possible to hit the enemy behind fortifications .
When comparing the characteristics of Russian and French weapons, several need to be taken into account general points related to its use.
During the Napoleonic Wars, volley rifle and artillery fire dominated. Only rangers and voltigeurs in loose formation could fire differently. This was caused, among other things, by the black powder used. When there was a discrepancy in the salvo, the latecomers fired into the smoky cloud, which after each salvo clouded the battle formations.
The maximum rate of fire largely depended not on the characteristics of the weapon, but on the training of the soldiers. A well-trained soldier, as practical shooting has shown even today, could easily ensure a rate of fire of 3-4 rounds per minute from a smoothbore gun using a cartridge. This pace could not be maintained for long, but allowed 10–12 salvoes to be fired at a battalion column attacking briskly, 7–9 for attacking running and 2–3 for attacking cavalry at a gallop. Given the low accuracy of fire even against close battle formations, rifle fire alone was usually not able to stop the attack of battalion columns or cuirassiers.
Field artillery had a longer firing range than smooth-bore shotguns. At the same time, the field gun had a maximum rate of fire thanks to cap loading of 7–9 rounds per minute. At the same time, the accuracy of artillery fire at equal distances was also higher. Here, too, the high tempo could not be maintained for long, but it made it possible to fire 25–35 volleys of grapeshot at a battalion column attacking at a fast pace, 15–20 against an attacking run and 7–10 against a cavalry attacking at a gallop. This rate of fire was a powerful stopping force against both infantry and cavalry, provided there were a sufficient number of guns along the length of the attacked front. Such superiority of artillery usually made it possible to win a firefight with infantry even at short distances. The power of artillery on the battlefield in relation to other types of troops was, perhaps, greatest precisely in early XIX century.
The first fast-firing 18-pounder Mk I gun entered service with the Royal Artillery in 1904, and by 1914 it had become the standard field gun in service with British and Commonwealth armies. Some of its samples were even produced in India. The design of the 18-pounder gun was based on designs from the Woolwich plant, Elswick and Vickers workshops. The gun barrel was wrapped in wire, had a simple breech and was mounted on a carriage with a trunk. A regular shield was provided. Shrapnel was used as ammunition.
Very soon the basic model of the gun was modified. Firstly, the inner tube of the gun barrel became removable, although when this gun went to war in 1914, it was practically no different from the basic version. The return springs of the gun, which returned the barrel to its original position after recoil, could not withstand prolonged firing and broke, which turned the gun into a pile of iron. All the gunsmiths could do was change the springs, which took a lot of time and effort. This continued until a modification of this gun appeared in the army. A completely new hydropneumatic recoil mechanism was developed, which was mounted inside the existing spring housing, making the gun more reliable.
During the First World War, the gun was subjected to another modernization. The original carriage included a trunk that was suitable for horse-drawn traction. However, this trunk went under the breech, which limited the elevation angle, and therefore the firing range. The result was the 18-pounder Mk IV gun (modifications were designated by numbers). In fact it was new development. First of all, the Mk IV was equipped with a box-shaped frame, which ensured that the barrel was raised at a greater angle and increased the firing range, in addition, a new bolt mechanism of the Asbury model was proposed.
The new recoil mechanism, located under the gun barrel, used the free piston principle, using oil and compressed air for smoother and more reliable movement. The cradle has been changed. The result was a fully rotating gun. It not only had an increased firing range, but was also more stable and had a high rate of fire - for a trained crew, 30 rounds per minute was common.
By the time the 18-pounder Mk IV entered production the war had already ended, but it was the weapon of choice for the Royal Artillery between the wars. By that time, the gun began to be supplied not only to the troops of Britain and the Commonwealth countries. Since 1917, a large batch of these guns was acquired by the US Army. Later they appeared in Ireland, the Baltic countries and China. Most of the 18-pounder guns found their use during the Second World War, and the last gun was removed from service with the Irish Army only in the 70s of the twentieth century.
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God of War 1812. Artillery in Patriotic War Shirokorad Alexander Borisovich
Chapter 11 ARTILLERY OF THE GRAND ARMY
GRAND ARMY ARTILLERY
French artillery in the 18th century is considered by most historians to be the best in the world. In 1732, Lieutenant General de Volliers introduced a system of guns that became the most advanced in the world. It consisted of 4-, 8- and 18-pounder field guns, 24-pounder siege guns, and 8- and 12-inch mortars.
In 1776, a new system under General Jean Baptiste Gribeauval was introduced in France, which existed with minor changes until 1827.
The length of the field guns of the Gribeauval system is 18 calibers. The gap in the channel between the wall and the core was halved - from 5 mm for aviary tools to 2.5 mm, due to which the starting speed projectile and shooting accuracy. On the other hand, reducing the gaps prevented the use of red-hot cannonballs, that is, a very effective incendiary agent of that time.
The gun barrels were cast solid to avoid shells, and then a channel was drilled into them. The Aviary decorations on the trunks have disappeared. The fuses were made in copper seed rods to save the guns from the rapid flare-up of the ignition hole. Sights and front sights, previously absent, were introduced.
Field guns of the Gribeauval system
The trunnion axis was raised slightly closer to the channel axis to reduce impacts of the breech on the carriage's lifting mechanism.
Gribeauval significantly lightened the carriages and replaced the lifting wedge with a lifting screw mechanism. The front end (without a box) is made with a drawbar (instead of the previous shaft) to make it easier for the native horses.
A team of six horses carried a 12-pounder cannon, four horses carried an 8-pounder, and a pair of horses carried a 4-pounder.
To move the gun into position, Gribeauval introduced straps for servants; for the same purpose, wooden levers were inserted into brackets in the middle of the carriage. 14–15 people were enough to move a 12-pound gun in this way, even on inconvenient ground.
Designation of the main parts of the gun barrel of the Gribeauval system
Gribeauval established the composition of the battery at 8 guns of the same caliber (4-pounder, 8-pounder, 12-pounder guns or 6-inch howitzers), considering that:
1) The battery must be divided into two or four platoons.
2) To service eight guns, one company of 120 servants, which has a reserve team in the park, is enough.
3) For carts serving eight guns, one company of convoy is enough.
4) One experienced captain can command these guns.
The Gribeauval 4-pounder gun had a caliber of 86.4 mm and a barrel weight of 295 kg. Accordingly, the 6-pounder, 8-pounder and 12-pounder guns had calibers of 96 mm, 106 mm and 121 mm, and weights of about 400 kg, 590 kg and 870–880 kg. The greatest effective firing range of the French 8-pounder guns was: cannonball - 900 m and grapeshot - 500 m, and 4-pounder guns, respectively, 800 m and 300 m.
A few words need to be said about the system of the 11th year, that is, 1803. Let me remind you that Napoleon returned the country to the old calendar in 1805.
In 1803, a special commission was created in France under the chairmanship of the First Consul Napoleon. Its purpose was to decide whether Gribeauval’s artillery was still suitable, or whether it was time to change it in accordance with the newly developed military requirements. The commission created a new “Year XI system,” which, although not yet fully implemented in practice, influenced the further development of artillery. This system assumed the following.
Eliminate 4- and 8-pounder field and 16-pounder siege guns, 6- and 8-inch howitzers, and 10-inch mortars. Replace 4- and 8-pound calibers with 6-pound long 17 calibers weighing 130 cores, modeled on Prussian artillery. To replace the previous 6-inch howitzers, introduce a 24-pound howitzer with a bore length of 5 calibers and a weight of 600 pounds with a projectile weight of about 14 pounds. Adopt mountain artillery consisting of new short 6-pounder guns weighing 360 pounds (that is, weighing 60 cannonballs), 24-pounder light howitzers and 3-pounder guns weighing 160 pounds (that is, weighing 53 cannonballs).
Section of a 12-pound French cannon. The presence of a chamber is clearly visible
The fortress artillery was to consist of 24-, 12- and 6-pounder guns; 12-, 8-inch and 24-pound Homer mortars and a 15-inch “stone thrower”.
For special mobile siege artillery parks, a new short 24-pounder gun with a length of 16 calibers and a weight of 120 cores was designed.
Coastal artillery included 24- and 36-pound cast iron cannons, as well as 12-inch long-range mortars (charged 12 kg of gunpowder). The coastal cannons were supposed to accept explosive shells with thickened bottoms and spikes.
Field carriages were accepted with straight frames and a box on the front, tied and easily removed.
Gribeauval's charging box was replaced by another - with wheels rolling under the body, but without reducing the diameter of the wheels and without raising the body. The ammunition was located in special boxes that could be easily inserted and removed.
Howitzers of the Gribeauval system
There are three types of iron axles - for the 12-pounder gun and howitzer, the 6-pounder gun and for other carts. Three types of wheels were used. 3-pounder cannons and a special forge were adapted for packing, as were boxes of ammunition. Gribeauval's fortress and siege carriages were replaced by a new type of "boom carriage" with a trunnion axis height of 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m).
Finally, Colonel Villantrois designed long 8-, 9- and 11-inch howitzers with a bore length of 7-8 calibers, firing large charges at large elevation angles. These howitzers were intended to protect coastal fortifications and bays intended to shelter the fleet, as well as for bombardment from long distances. The 11-inch Villantrois howitzer weighed 39 pounds (639 kg); projectile - 215 pounds (88 kg); charge - 60 pounds (24.57 kg). With these data and an elevation angle of 42°, the range was 5.8 versts (6.2 km).
As we can see, there were many reasonable ideas in the “XI year system”. The replacement of 4- and 8-pounder guns with 6-pounder ones (by drilling out the 4-pounder ones) was caused by the experience of the war. Thus, 8-pound guns turned out to be insufficiently mobile for horse artillery and required a large convoy, which lengthened the marching columns. And the 4-pounder guns were too weak and could not operate at long ranges. The 6-pound caliber was used by opponents - Austria and Prussia. By increasing their caliber a little, it was possible to prevent the enemy from using their shells, and at the same time it was possible to use the enemy’s shells. The experience of using 6-pounder guns captured by the French from the Austrians gave good results regarding reality and mobility. 6-pounder guns were introduced into the French artillery and were used in the Napoleonic Wars.
The howitzers of the Gribeauval system were too short and light, quickly wore out the carriages and had poor accuracy. Their ammunition required a large number of boxes. The 24-pound howitzers were long and more weight, fired large charges, and the accuracy of shooting from them was higher. And also, these howitzers did not damage their carriages. The same caliber as the 24-pounder guns made it possible to use the same shells as howitzers if the bombs were accepted for long guns, but in practice this turned out to be impossible at that time.
The 10-inch mortar occupied a middle position between the 12- and 8-inch mortars and could replace both of them. Mountain artillery is especially necessary when crossing mountainous terrain, for example, when crossing the Alps.
Straight carriage frames were cheaper and easier to manufacture. Front boxes were already accepted by everyone in all the armies of the world by that time. Changing the design of the charging boxes increased their maneuverability and ease of delivery of ammunition to the guns. Finally, Villantrois howitzers performed well in practice - during the bombardment of Cadiz, and became a good tool for coastal defense from long distances.
But constant wars, the inability to carry out long and serious tests new systems, as well as a number of other difficulties that arose in the process of using new projects in combat conditions, did not make it possible to accept the “XI year system” in its entirety. Only 6-pounder guns, 24-pounder howitzers and a few Villantrois howitzers were accepted. The 6- and 8-inch field howitzers were slightly lengthened, following the Prussian model. The remaining guns remained in service. So the result, instead of simplification, was an even greater variety of material.
Drawing of a French howitzer
In addition to cannons, the French army also had howitzers. Moreover, they were not intended for mounted fire, as in the twentieth century, but exclusively for flat fire as reinforcement weapons.
In 1812, the Grand Army was armed with three types of howitzers: the 6-inch Gribeauval system, the 6-inch “extended” howitzer and the 24-pound howitzer of the “XI year” model. Their caliber was approximately the same - about 152 mm, and all howitzers had cylindrical chambers. The 6-inch Gribeauval howitzer of 162 mm caliber had a length of 4.75 calibers. Its barrel weight was 330–355 kg, and the carriage weighed 590 kg.
"Long" howitzers were introduced in 1795, modeled on Prussian howitzers. The length of the howitzer was 6.5 calibers. There were relatively few such howitzers in the Great Army.
The 24-pound howitzer of the “Year XI System” had a caliber of 160 mm, a barrel length of 6.75 calibers, a barrel weight of about 350 kg, and a carriage weight of 573 kg.
French howitzers were transported by four horses.
During the French Revolution, one-pound guns of the Rosten system were also used. They were intended for “light troops”, had a collapsible carriage and could be transported on packs. To the trunk of a carriage with wheels large diameter shafts were attached. The gun was transported by one horse. Its caliber is about two inches, the weight of the barrel is 4.2 pounds (68.8 kg).
Gribeauval left the siege and fortress weapons of de Volliers unchanged, removing only decorations (by turning) and small chambers that did not reach the goal and made it difficult to penetrate. A short 8-inch howitzer was introduced into the siege artillery.
During experimental shooting, Gribeauval found out that the Aviary 12-inch mortars would withstand a maximum of 100 more shots, after which they would become unusable; almost a third of the bombs fired from them would break. Therefore, he proposed a relatively weighted 10-inch mortar and bombs for it with thickened walls. With a charge of 7 pounds (2.87 kg), it threw bombs up to 1,000 fathoms (2,134 m), as did the 12-inch mortar. The mortar is sedentary, with a cylindrical chamber and a retractable seed rod. Cast iron machine. The Aviary 12-inch mortars were left in service until their bombs were completely used up, but from now on their weight was supposed to be increased by 8 pounds (131 kg).
In addition, Gribeauval adopted Homeric mortars of 12, 10 and 8 inches in caliber. A feature of these mortars, proposed in 1785, were large conical chambers, which gave a lower loading density and a more favorable gas effect. The chambers merged with a cylindrical channel. The mortars used triangular lugs that connected the trunnions to the body of the mortar (the muzzle). The 12-inch Homer mortar fired a bomb at a range of up to 1200 fathoms (2561 m).
In addition to the mortars, there were also 15-inch stone throwers, but descriptions of them could not be found.
In field carriages with slightly shortened and lightweight frames, the diameter of the wheels was increased, and iron axles and cast iron bushings in the hubs were adopted. To reduce the increased rollback, the beds were curved in the middle accordingly. Strong shackles and ankle straps slightly increased the weight of the carriage. To more evenly distribute the load on both axles during large movements, traveling sockets were adopted. Between the frames diverging towards the trunk there was an inserted fire monitor box for ammunition with a gable roof and hinges on the sides for inserting levers when carrying. The lifting mechanism consisted of a board rotating on a horizontal bolt (under axles), resting with its notch on the head of a screw screwed into the uterus rotating on axles. To make it easier for the servants to move the carriage, there were hooks in the frontal part at the ends of the axles and at the trunk, which were hooked onto special straps with leather loops. For the same purpose, transverse levers were inserted into special brackets on the frames. To move the carriage, 8–11 people were required for 4-pound guns and 11–15 for 12-pound guns. For horizontal aiming, two rules were used, pushed into the clips on the sides of the pivot funnel.
When retreating and transporting through ditches and rivers, a long rope was attached to the ring near the trunk - the so-called “draw”, by which the limber was pulled. In this case, the gun could continue firing.
The howitzer carriage had a wooden axle and a wedge lifting mechanism with a horizontal screw. There were no traveling nests. Knowing from experience that howitzer carriages cannot withstand firing at elevation angles greater than +20°, Gribeauval limited this angle to +18° (and –5°).
Siege carriages had a device similar to howitzer carriages, and differed little from Aviary carriages. Siege carriages did not have traveling nests, since the guns were transported separately from the carriages on special four-wheeled drays (to transfer the guns, the drogs were removed from the limbers, like the carriages).
For fortress guns, special carriages were adopted, the frames of which, consisting of several beams cut into each other, connected by bolts, had 2 wheels on the front axle and one solid, durable one - between the frames - on the rear. The front wheels rolled when rolling back along the side longitudinal bars of a special turntable; the rear wheel - along the central grooved beam of the platform, which could rotate around the front pivot. The lifting mechanism is wedge, without screw. The height of the trunnions is about 5 feet (1.52 m), instead of the previous 3?. For coastal guns, similar machines were adopted on four wheels, rolling along the beams of a wooden rotating frame (in front there was a pin; in the back there was one solid solid wheel, moving along an arced iron strip fixed on the base).
The field limbers consisted of a fork-shaped frame connected to a drawbar, a slab with a pivot above the axle, and a crossbar or slug that supported the trunk of the gun carriage. There was no box.
The siege limbers had thick wooden shafts, tightly fixed to the axle, and did not have a slug. The charging box consisted of a long box with a gable roof, mounted on a wooden frame, with its cutouts superimposed on the rear axle with high wheels and the field front axle with a slug. Wooden partitions formed nests for shells.
A field forge on four wheels with a fur, an open forge and two boxes for accessories was added to the number of carts. Triquebals and jacks were used for moving and transporting guns.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Prussian general Scharngorst assessed Gribeauval’s artillery as follows: “French artillery, which was the first in Europe in the previous period, became again the most advanced in 1774; It is true that the basic ideas of its design and organization were borrowed from the Prussian artillery, but they were implemented in such a way that the French guns are still not inferior to any others... everything that was borrowed received the highest possible degree of perfection. The French artillery corps took the most outstanding part in the development of artillery science and technology... when in other states artillery was a craft, in France it has already become a science... French material and French institutions now serve as examples for all other artillery.”
The main disadvantage of the French field artillery was the impossibility of landing servants on limbers and charging boxes, which allowed only walking.
The French army also paid great attention to horse artillery.
Initially, horse companies (six 4-pound cannons and one 6-inch howitzer) were attached to foot artillery regiments. However, by order of the War Ministry of February 7, 1794, a new branch of artillery was officially created, which received a special organization. The companies were organized into regiments of horse artillery. Each regiment had 6 companies and a depot.
On April 15, 1806, a horse artillery regiment of the Imperial Guard was formed, consisting of 6 companies.
U French guns and howitzers, the date of manufacture and the name of the craftsman were minted on the torel belt. Guns cast before 1793 bore the monograms of King Louis XIV. The crown of the French kings has eight line flowers above the hoop. Arcs rise from them, which also converge under the blossoming lily.
The cannons, cast in 1793–1803, depict the monogram of the Republic, consisting of two intertwined letters RF—Republic of France, topped with an inscription. Some guns have monograms National Assembly- “AN”, as well as the image of the “all-seeing eye” and the inscription.
The cannons cast under Napoleon I are decorated with his initials - the letter “N” in a laurel wreath under the crown. In the crown above the hoop are eagles with wings raised high.
The cannons of the Kingdom of Italy (Northern Italy, Piedmont and a number of duchies) depict the iron crown of the Lombard kings with the motto “God gave it to me. Woe to anyone who touches her." The guns of the Italian Kingdom differed little from the French ones, fortunately, since May 1805, Napoleon I was the Italian king. And this good king sent his troops to Russia to help the French Emperor Napoleon I.
2. French Allied Artillery
A complete description of the guns of the allied countries that participated in the campaign against Russia in 1812 is a hefty volume. So I will have to limit myself to the most common systems.
Table 12
Prussian artillery
| Weapon data | 12-pounder gun | 6-pounder gun | 3-pound cannon | 10 lb howitzer | 7-lb howitzer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber, inch/mm | 4,68/448,9 | 3,71/94,2 | 3,0/76,3 | 6,7/170,2 | 5,84/148,3 |
| Barrel length, club | 18,0 | 18 | 20 | 6,3 | 6,4 |
| Barrel weight, pud/kg | 55/901 | 30/491,4 | 14/229,2 | 36/589,7 | 25/409,5 |
| Carriage weight, pud/kg | 49/802,6 | 37/606 | ? | 49/802,6 | 41/671,6 |
| Front weight, pud/kg | 26/425,9 | 28/458,6 | ? | 26/425,9 | 28/458,6 |
| 130/2129 | 95/1556 | ? | 111/1818 | 104/1704 | |
| 55/901 | 55/901 | ? | 55/901 | 55/901 | |
| Gun crew, people | 13 | 9 | ? | 15 | 12 |
| 95 | 195 | ? | 48 | 85 | |
| 8 | 6 | ? | 8 | 6 | |
| 6 | 6 | ? | 6 | 6 |
The attentive reader has already noticed the discrepancy between the names of the Prussian howitzers - 10-pounder and 7-pounder - with the weight of their shells and caliber in inches. This is not a typo. The fact is that in Prussia, howitzer calibers were measured by the weight of a stone (!), and not a cast iron core.
Prussian 24-lb howitzer
The Prussian cannons, cast in Breslau in 1780–1801, depict the Prussian coat of arms - a single-headed eagle with a sword in one paw and “peruns” in the other. The eagle is crowned. Above the inscription: “For glory and homeland!”
The breech bears the monogram of King Frederick with the motto: "The King's Last Argument."
Table 13
Data from Austrian guns
| Weapon data | 12-pound battery gun | 12-pound light gun | 6-pounder gun | 3-pound cannon | 7-lb howitzer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber, inch/mm | 4,66/118,4 | 4,66/118,4 | 3,72/94,5 | 2,99/75,9 | 5,87/149,1 |
| Barrel length, club | 25,0 | 16,0 | 16,0 | 16 | 6,1 |
| Barrel weight, pud/kg | 80/1310 | 48/786,2 | 23,5/385 | 14,7/240,8 | 16,8/275,2 |
| Carriage weight, pud/kg | 40/655,2 | 30/491,4 | 29,5/483,2 | 19,5/319,4 | 29/475 |
| Front weight, pud/kg | 20/327,6 | 20/327,6 | 17/278,5 | 17/278,5 | 17/278,5 |
| Weight of the gun with the limber, pud/kg | 140/2293 | 98/1605 | 70/1147 | 51,2/838,6 | 62,8/1028 |
| Weight of charging box without ammunition, pd/kg | 27/442,3 | 27/442,3 | 27/442,3 | 27/442,3 | 27/442,3 |
| Gun crew, people | 12 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 11 |
| Number of shells carried in one charging box | 90 | 90 | 176 | 144 | 90 |
| Number of horses in a cannon harness | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Number of horses in a charging box harness | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
It is worth noting here that the calibers of a number of Austrian cannons are expressed in the small Nuremberg scale and therefore, with the same name, are smaller than in the artillery of other countries. For example, a 12-pound Austrian is equivalent to an 8-pound French, and a 6-pound is equivalent to a 4-pound.
Since the Austrian Empire included many territories, Austrian guns were distinguished by a wide variety of coats of arms and monograms. Thus, on the cannons with the coats of arms of Bohemia, Burgundy and Lombardy, images of eagles with the order chain of the “Golden Fleece” are minted. Cannons from the time of Empress Maria Theresa adorn the coat of arms of the Duchy of Tuscany, which includes the coats of arms of Austria, Parma, Hungary, Bohemia, and Jerusalem.
The artillery of the Great Army also included English cannons. Moreover, they were not trophies of the “villain Bonaparte.” The fact is that Napoleon annexed Hanover - the personal possession of the British kings.
Accordingly, the Hanoverian cannons feature the monogram English king George VII with the chain of the Order of the Garter and the inscription: “Shame on him who thinks ill of it.”
Saxon 20-lb howitzer
The Great Army also included Dutch cannons, cast in The Hague in 1797. They depict the coats of arms of Flanders with the inscription “Watch, trusting in God.”
The cannons, cast in 1788, bear the coat of arms of Zealand - the “swimming lion”. On the shield under the ducal crown is the inscription: “I fight and fight out.”
The Polish cannons depict the coats of arms of King Stanislaw Augustus, Prince Sapieha, Prince Potocki, surrounded by a chain of the Order of the White Eagle with the inscription “For faith, law and flock.”
On the cannons with the coat of arms of Prince Sapieha there is a mantle, in the oval there is an arrow, around there are laurels intertwined with an order ribbon, and the title of Prince Nestor-Kazimir Sapieha: the chief chief of artillery of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The cannons are engraved with the motto “For Faith, Tsar and Law” and the inscription: “A citizen sacrificed me to the Fatherland.”
The cannons with the coat of arms of Count Potocki also depict a mantle, and on them there is an oval shield with a seven-pointed cross and the coat of arms of Pilyava. The laurels are intertwined with the mite of the Order of Stanislaus. On the oval is the inscription: “Count Theodor Potocki of the Crown Artillery, Major General.” On top are a helmet and a count's crown, and above it are ostrich feathers with the same cross as in the coat of arms. Above the coat of arms is the motto “For war, but not at all for civil” and the year “1767”.
Table 14
Artillery data from Napoleon's allies
| Type of gun | Caliber, inch/mm | Channel length, club | Length without wings, mm | Barrel weight, kg | Projectile weight, kg | Charge weight, kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neapolitan | ||||||
| 6-pounder gun | 3,7/94 | 16 | 1448 | 352 | 3,2 | 1,02 |
| howitzer | 6/152 | 5,3 | 1016 | 295 | 6 | 0,6 |
| Westphalian | ||||||
| 6-pounder gun | 3,7/94 | 16 | 1626 | 376 | 3,34 | 0,836 |
| Bavarian | ||||||
| 6-pounder gun | 3,7/94 | 18 | 1626 | 410 | 3,34 | 0,836 |
| howitzer | 6/152 | 5 | 1016 | 295 | 6,5 | 0,72 |
| Saxon | ||||||
| 4-pounder gun | 3,25/83 | 16 | 1321 | 278 | 1,7 | 0,72 |
| 6-pounder gun | 3,7/94 | 18 | 1626 | 376 | 3,33 | 0,83 |
| howitzer | 6/152 | 5 | 1016 | 295 | 6,5 | 0,72 |
| Polish | ||||||
| 6-pounder gun | 3,7/94 | 18 | 1524 | 393 | 3,2 | 1,02 |
| 3-pound cannon | 3176 | 18 | 1245 | 229 | 1,2 | 0,6 |
Chapter 2 BATTLES ON THE FLANKS OF THE GREAT ARMY By the beginning of the Patriotic War, the 3rd reserve observation army under the command of cavalry general Tormasov was located in Volyn, occupying positions from Lyuboml to Stary Konstantinov with main apartment in Lutsk. Army
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Pounder
Pounder
Pounder
Cannon - depending on the difficulty level 8-pounder, 12-pounder and 16-pounder - Boss living in the Thicket.
Bandit Cannon - Ancestor's memories
| “ |
Simple folk are by their nature loquacious, and the denizens of the hamlet were no exception. It was not long before rumors of my morbid genius and secretive excavations began to fill local legend. In the face of my increasingly egregious flaunting of public taboos, awe turned to ire, and demonstrations were held in the town square. The whisper wilds of heresy roused the rabble to violent action. Such was the general air of rebellion that even my generous offer of gold to the local constabulary was rebuffed. To reassert my rule, I sought out unscrupulous men skilled in the application of force. Tight-lipped and terrifying, these mercenaries brought with them a war machine of terrible implication. Eager to end the tiresome domestic distraction, I instructed my newly formed militia of hardened bandits, brigands and killers to go ahead and do their work. Compliance and order were restored, and the noisesome population of the Hamlet was culled to more managable numbers. |
„ |
Story
When rumors of the Ancestor's experiments reached the ears of the local residents, they became furious. In order to contain them, the Ancestor hired a gang of robbers who brought with them huge cannon incredible strength. Now that the Ancestor has died, the robbers continue to use it, terrorizing the village.
Behavior
Bandit Cannon appears in the second position, with three bandits in the other three positions. The most dangerous of them is the Rogue Pyro, who makes the Cannon fire. If the Pyro is able to act on its turn, the Cannon will use one of its two attacks. The first one, BOOOOOM! (“BOOOOOOOM!”) is a long-range attack that hits the entire squad with huge damage and also causes a lot of stress. The second attack is a misfire! ("MISFIRE!") does no damage and gives the party stress treatment. The Cannon itself cannot use any of its attacks except the Reinforcement skill! (“Reinforcements!”), which summons another rogue. The cannon will use this skill at the start of each turn until all positions are filled. If you killed the Arsonist Rogue, the Cannon will first summon him, and therefore all other types of robbers. The chance of Cannon using his devastating attack increases depending on the dungeon's level.
Skills
| Apprentice Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill name | Attack type | From the position | Strikes to position | Chance to hit | Crit chance | Damage | Effect | Effect on yourself |
| Reinforcement* | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1, 2, 3, 4. (allies) | 0% | 0% | 0 | Summon Brigands** | No effect |
| BOOOOOOOM!*** | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1+2+3+4. | 83% | 0% | 9-27 | Stress +15 | No effect |
| MISFIRE!*** | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1+2+3+4. | 0% | 0% | 0 | Stress -10 | No effect |
| Veteran Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill name | Attack type | From the position | Strikes to position | Chance to hit | Crit chance | Damage | Effect | Effect on yourself |
| Reinforcement* | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1, 2, 3, 4. (allies) | 0% | 0% | 0 | Summon Brigands** | No effect |
| BOOOOOOOM!*** | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1+2+3+4. | 89% | 0% | 12-35 | Stress +15 | No effect |
| MISFIRE!*** | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1+2+3+4. | 0% | 0% | 0 | Stress -10 | No effect |
| Champion Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill name | Attack type | From the position | Strikes to position | Chance to hit | Crit chance | Damage | Effect | Effect on yourself |
| Reinforcement* | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1, 2, 3, 4. (allies) | 0% | 0% | 0 | Summon Brigands** | No effect |
| BOOOOOOOM!*** | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1+2+3+4. | 103% | 0% | 18-54 | Stress +15 | No effect |
| MISFIRE!*** | Ranged | 1, 2, 3, 4. | 1+2+3+4. | 0% | 0% | 0 | Stress -10 | No effect |
* Bandit Cannon will always use Reinforcements! (Reinforcement) at the beginning of each of your turns, until all positions are occupied by robbers.
** Reinforcements! Reinforcement can only summon Brigand Matchman, Brigand Cutthroat, Brigand Fusilier and Brigand Bloodletter. If the Firebug Rogue is not on the battlefield, he will always be summoned first.
** There can only be 1 robber of each type on the battlefield. This means that the Cannon cannot summon two Arsonists or Thugs.
*** Bandit Cannon will use BOOOOOOOM! and MISFIRE! only after the Pyro skill “The fuse is burning!” (Fire In The Hole) regardless of the effects on it.
*** BOOOOOOOM! and MISFIRE! are mutually exclusive. Only one of these skills can be used after Brigand Matchman uses Fuse Burns! (Fire In The Hole).
NOTE: As the dungeon's difficulty increases, the chance of using BOOOOOOOM! increases significantly, and the probability of MISFIRE! decreases. An approximate table of relationships as difficulty levels increase:
| Apprentice | Veteran | Champion | |
| BOOOOOOOM! | 65% | 70% | 75% |
| MISFIRE! | 35% | 30% | 25% |
Strategy
First and most importantly, kill the Arsonist first! Do not allow him to live until the end of the turn, as his actions have disastrous consequences for the entire squad. It is recommended to take with you heroes that can attack in all positions, as the Pyro can be moved or summoned again to the third or fourth position, where it will be inaccessible to melee attacks. Luckily, the Pyro has very low speed and low health, making him an easy target to kill. Bleeding and Poison can kill the Pyro before he even lights the fuse, and stuns will cause him to miss his turn.
As for the Cannon itself, it has a LOT of defense points and is practically immune to all possible effects. In this battle, it is recommended to take heroes with AOE attacks with you so that you can deal with robbers and Cannon at the same time.
One strategy is to kill all the robbers, after which you can attack the Cannon without support. This is a rather long, but safe battle, since the Cannon will be busy summoning more and more robbers. However, any hero with Stun can reduce incoming damage, leaving the rogue stunned instead of having a new one summoned. Hit the rogue with one attack per turn, then stun him and finish him off when he is under the stun resistance increase buff. This will reduce incoming damage to the squad, without leading to constant calls for new robbers, and will allow you to finish off the Cannon more quickly, freeing up additional attacks for this. The Thug is the most obvious target for this strategy, as he spawns in the first position and his attacks deal more concentrated damage than the Marksman's, making it difficult to control incoming damage with healing.
Another strategy is to ignore the two rogues and focus on the Pyro and Cannon. This is a more dangerous and risky strategy, but it will help reduce the number of Reinforcements. High Damage and Evasion stats are recommended for this strategy.
Actually high level Combat with the Cannon can cause a lot of problems, since the Firestarter's health and evasion increases significantly, the Cannon's health doubles, and it begins to summon the Brigand Bloodletter robber. Due to the increased health and damage of robbers, conventional strategies become less effective. For the last level of difficulty, it is recommended to assemble a squad without a healer in order to quickly destroy the robbers and beat the Cannon in those turns when it only summoned the Arsonist. A good option there will be a squad structure built on interaction with the Mark - Savage-Mercenary-Crossbowman-Tamer. However, it is risky to send such a squad into the Thicket without a healer due to the Unclean Giant monster found there.
- When entering the boss room, you can surprise two robbers, but not the Cannon or the Pyro.
