7YW Artillery Scale Drawings – part 2 - FRANCE

After more then a years interruption I finally managed to continue with my artillery project. Job has kept me too much occupied during the last year, but with the start of last years Christmas Holiday Season I managed to do several more illustrations.

As said before, my main intention is to draw the various cannons and howitzers from several 7YW period Armies all in same scale inorder to supply myself – and anyone else interested – with a ready idea on their dimensions. Overall as well as comparatively to another. An image sais more then a 1000 words, a German proverb goes. After all, most of us wargamers or miniature collectors spend much effort in getting the drummers lace of a particular regiment the right way, but when it comes to select the gun models for a particular army that would be most authentic, matters will soon become difficult. For most part because the available information on this subject I found to be so limited, really. Often, it includes a lot of errors. Result of it all is that most models for 7YW Prussians from German foundries more often supply models based on post 7YW data. For the Prussian 1759 onwards mainstay ‘Austrian-style’ 12-pdr. they simply forward an Austrian model with a ‘Prussian’ limber that would mount a munitions chest as opposed to the Austrian limber that comes without it. Now, that‘s all nonsense.

I started with what will likely be the biggest piece that will have to fit onto my selected sheet format.  It is the French Vallière 24-pounder heavy cannon M1732.

With the cannonier placed next to it, this cannon turns out to be a real biest. I found it irritating, initially, and checked scales oncemore to see wheather I got something wrong. But, no – there you are. Dimensions are correct. I have changed my mind and decided for a blue furnish, rather then red. The issue is discussed at Kronoskaf Seven Years War Project at http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=French_Artillery_Equipment#Gun_Carriages 

I decided to follow this more recent French research.

My draft is based for most part on the wonderful material provided in the contemopray German book on gunnery by Struensee, Carl August; Anfangsgründe der Artillerie, Leipzig and Liegnitz, 1760. It provides detailed drafts of the 24-pounder carriage along with an elaborate explanation as to how the dimensions are found. It also provides a detailed table with the dimensions of all other carriages that are to mount the 16, the 12, 8, and 4-pounder of the Vallière ordnance. 

I do not know Struensee‘s source for these tables, but his dimensions roughly agree with the more general details provided in Guillaume Le Blond, L‘Artillerie Raisonnée, Paris 1761, and the principal French source on the subject by Surirey de Saint Remy, Mémoires d‘Artillerie, first published in 1697, and a revised edition in 1745 by Guillaume Le Blond. 

It should be noted that during this period no universal system for the construction of carriages existed. The artillery administration of France was divided into several districts among which that of French Flandres located at Douai and that of Germany located at Strasbourg would have been the most important ones. Each district would assemble its carriages according to its own accepted custom, resulting in somewhat varying dimensions for the overall length of the carriage as well as different heights for the wheels. We should also assume many variants with the metal fittings could be found. See below illustration of 24-pounders in action, found in the French Esquisse Historique de l‘Artillerie Française, by A. de Moltzheim, Strasbourg 1866. 

Not sure if we really see Vallière pieces here, for the artist skillfully placed a gunner in front of the two cannons cascabel sections, thus, refuses us an easy identification. But even if these 24-pounders are from the pre-1732 Vallière range, the dimensions were basically the same. Both were 10 foot barrels.

The Vallière cascabel of the 24-pdr. usually featured the face of Bacchus or Hercules. See below cascabel of an original barrel seen at the Paris Musée de l‘Armée with my recent visit November 2011. It served as model for my draft.

It is the barrel named L‘Eeclatant (should translate to ‘The Devastator’), cast at Strasbourg by the founder J. Berenger in 1757.

This museum is truely one of my most favorate places in the world. I love being there. For me, a visit turns into near paradise if it‘s combined with a lunch at trendy Café de l‘Esplanade. Really, this is damn close to my take of Paradise when you are enjoying a tasty Beef Tartar along with a bottle of Chambertin - Napoleon‘s preferred brand of whine - and all of this in combination with a perfect view on a giant battery of bronze barrels.

Now returning to the topic, here is my next sheet. The French short Swedish-style 4-pounder which served as French bataillon gun from 1757 on at a ratio of one piece per line bataillon, and the long Vallière 4-pounder field gun. 

The Brocard 4-pounder I have done anew and added some more detail. This pieces carriage initialy came with a vertical elevation screw beneath the barrels breech.
The Vallière 4-pounder was the mainstay of French position artillery during the 7YW amounting to more then 50% of the field artillery‘s total for most of the war and not including the bataillon guns here.

This illustration is based on the drafts in Memoires d‘Artillerie, 1745 edition. However sources say the machinery was found being vulnerable to damage, so that that later models returned to ordinary wedges for laying the piece.

Below find the two 4-pounder barrels examined in somewhat more detail.

The barrel of the Brocard 4-pounder should have featured the same insignia as those of the Vallière range. La Pie at the Paris Museum, though, comes with a cloud darting lightnig flashes instead of the arms of the Grand Maître d‘Artillerie. Not sure if this was an exception or the rule.

The Brocard piece saw first empolyment during the War of Austrian Succession. Maréchal Belle-Ille‘s army of 1741 fielded them in place of the long 4-pounders in an attempt to lighten the artillery train as it embarced from Strasbourg to Bohemia. A reserve of 20 or so pieces saw action at the battle of Fontenoy in 1745. It‘s designer/constructor, captain Brocard was killed in this battle.

Below see for an image of a Vallière 4-pounders cascabel on display at the Paris Museum. It served as model of my draft.

Below I have arranged a number of barrels to give an impression of their dimensions to another. They serve also to give a first taste on the distinctive looks of ordnance fielded by a particular nation. 

Note the rather massive muzzle design of the Austrian M1753 pieces as opposed to the somewhat less massive tulip or pear shaped muzzle of French ordnance. The Prussian barrel with it‘s distinctive griffins instead of dolphins and a muzzle that has an odd conic shape are distinctives for all Prussian cannons fielded during this period. It gives a good idea of all this talk about Prussian artillery being designed so much lighter then that of most other nations. The Saxon 3-pounder, however is a tentative and speculative reconstruction on my side. Will do an extra post on this piece within short. The monkey face sculptured cascabel of the Vallière 8-pounder was seen with an original barrel found at the Vienna Army Museum last November.

The other barrel in the centre is a Brocard 4-pounder. Note this barrel has a rather flat shaped base behind the barrels breech. The Douai cast La Pie is more rounded.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get any closer to the pieces in Vienna then this. The museum has a fantastic collection on display at the so entitled Artillery Halls section of the Museum. I visited on first Sunday in November and learned this section is closed for visitors from November through end of March. You can imagine how frustrating this felt. I will have another visit upcoming April for sure.

Below see the draft of a Vallière 8-pdr.

I should note that the tables of dimensions for French carriages in the afore mentioned book by Struensee advises 58 inches wheels for all of the Vallière system cannons. I decided to illustrate the 4 and 8-pounder with 54 inch wheels as per the Strasbourg arsenal figures provided in the 1697 published St. Remy book mentioned above. Just the 12 to 24-pounders have the larger diameter 58 inches wheels.

Next sheet illustrates the 12-pounder placed next to the 8-pounder for easier comparison of the dimensions.

Both pieces are of near similar dimensions to my surprise. I knew about the plain figures before, but you can only catch the dimensions if you actually see it or have some sort of visual reference.

The cascabel design of the Vallière 12-pounders featured a rooster or cockerel head. My draft is based on an original barrel seen at the Paris Museum. It is the piece named Le Harpie (the Greek mythological 'Harpy' – vulg.: 'The Snatcher'). Cast by the famous Swiss origin Jean Maritz founder at Strasbourg in 1743.
My initial learnings from it all can be summarized with the short conclusion: Size does matter. I need bigger gun models!
Now, only the 16-pounder and the 8 inch howitzer is missing to provide a complete illustration of the French ordnance fielded during the Seven Years' War. I hope to publish them within soon.

To complete the range of the Vallière M1732 cannons see below illustration of the 16-pounder cannon and photos of an original 16-pounder barrel on display at the Paris museum which serves as sample of my cascabel design.

I also placed the 12 and 24-pounder in scale to this piece and only now realized the overall dimensions of all 3 aren‘t particulary words apart. I must say, when starting the project, I was shackeled by the common prejudice long barrels belong to the early 18th C. period, while by the mid 18 hundreds barrels had mostly arrived at much shorter length. My so far research revealed, this is altogether a wrong assumtion. The French ordnance we have here wasn‘t so much different from that of it‘s most formidable Seven Years War opponent - the electorate of Hanover. This nation fielded 12-pounders with a length of 24 calibers and 6-pounders of 27 calibers as heavy position artillery during all of the 7YW. Also the Prussians had plenty of similar dimensioned pieces such as the famous 12-pounder Brummer (Engl.: Growler) and also heavy 6-pounders with 26 shots barrels from 1759 on. The only real difference was that these latter Prussian pieces were really siege guns, but as it turned out, did do good service also as field guns.
The Vallière system did not make a distinction between siege and field guns at that time. With my next article, I will try to provide some figures that allow to estimate the quantity of the various pieces fielded with a typical French army of the Seven Years War.

7YW Artillery Scale Drawings

Recently I have turned my attention to the research of 7YW artillery.

I decided to turn my past and future findings into a series of scale drawings that are meant to serve as reference to any sculptor for creating new models. Certain ranges of ordnance are fairly well known and good  models are out already, but for others, it seems, not much had ever been published. I already received 2 requests from sculptors for support during the last year. The entire subject is very interesting and illustrating the guns is a great pleasure.

I decided to start with the French artillery as I have most information on it. It will be a good start for learning and pushing deeper into the subject. Austria will follow. Thereafter I will turn to Prussian ordnance of the period. This will be somewhat more challanging as only few original scale drawings could be found. A lot more written details are around, though.

Above image shows my work-in-progress illustration of the French M1732 Vallière 4-pdr. The upper finished barrel is the Brocard ‘Swedish-type’ 4-pdr that served as bataillon gun of the French line infantry during the 7YW. More on it further below. The altogether more formidable dimensions of the standard Vallière 4-pdr are obvious. With 7YW period sources it is often referred to as the ‘long’ 4-pdr with a barrel of Paris 6' 9'' or 27 calibres as opposed to the ‘short’ Paris 4'6'' or 18 calibres French bataillon gun. Note, as a general rule, for specifying the length of a barrel only the tube was scaled, the rear cascable and button being omitted. Furthermore, also the strength of the barrel walls were different. The Vallière barrel follows the ‘classic’ system of around 1700. That is to say, the strength of the barrel walls at the rear of the 1st Renfort equalled 1 calibre or 12/12 and decending to 5.5/12 at the front of the muzzle. This was called "vollgütig" (solid cast) in German gunners jargon. The 1st half of the 18th century in particular saw a great deal of experimenting and modeling to find the best length of a barrel and the best strength of metal from base to muzzle. Result was that a 4-pdr could end up arriving at very different dimensions, despite all being referred to as 4-pdr cannon. Prussians pushed affairs here to the limit - and beyond. In short, a 12-pdr wasn't a 12-pdr - i.e. they were not necessarily all alike. My research intends to add some clarification here.

This is the first of my Ordnance Data-Sheets. The French bataillon gun of the 7YW complete with carriage.

Nigel Billington was a tad faster with publishing on his blog. I noticed that with his image, the red furnish of the carriage comes out much like the stanard NYC fire department red. Not particulary the shade of red I had in mind with my illustration. To this end, I added a colour key to the sheet.

Refight of 1741 battle of Mollwitz

For once, I took the opportunity and made a number of nice photos of last Saturday's battle of Mollwitz. A good part of My-Seven-Years-War Austrians & Prussians were gathered for an scenario, designed to introduce my 12 year old nephew to the realm of wargaming.  The game was played with Volley & Bayonet rules. The scenario loosely followed the 1741 Mollwitz situation. About 600 of my miniatures took part. An infantry regimental base has an average 16 figures, the cavalry brigade stand 10 to 12, and a battery consists of 5 to 8 gunners plus the piece.

The Prussians under young Frederic and Feld-Maréchal Schwerin were played by myself while the Austrians were played by nephew Karl. Initially it was to be under the command of count Königsegg, but Karl wanted to command en chef himself. Only minutes before commencement of the battle a courrier from Vienna arrived ordering supreme command to be transferred to "Prinz Karl" – alias duc Charles de Lorraine. To keep it short: I suffered a decisive defeat. Karl, only playing for the second time beat the old maestro. My brave Prussian infantry melted away under a series of most murderous salvoes on the side of the Austrian infantry. That day, my dice were no match to Karl's. 

Above picture shows the Austrian line of battle, formed to either side of the little village of Mollwitz. The right wing cavalry (not on the photo) consisted of 3 brigades: C4 Stampach cuirassiers, de Ville's elite brigade of converged Grenadiers à cheval, and the Saxon prince Charles chevauxlegers. Infantry 1st line from right to left: Prinz Karl's own IR3 duc Charles de Lorraine, Netherlandish IR30 Saxe-Gotha and IR9 Los Rios, IR22 Sprecher, Kurmainz imperial auxilliaries, IR59 Leopold Daun, and IR1 l'Empereur romain. The second line: IR27 Baden-Durlach, IR14 Rhingrave de Salm, IR32 Forgatch and IR31 Haller Hungarians, and finally IR4 Teutschmeister closing on the left. The Austrian left wing cavalry consisted of 4 brigades: C1 Archi duc Leopold cuirassiers, C9 Saxe-Teschen cuirassiers, C6 Odonell cuirassiers, and D4 Savoyen dragons. Total was 7 brigades of cavalry, 12 regiments of infantry and 2 batteries including 1 being heavy. (N.B.: all regimental numbers according to the system used at Kronoskaf – see http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw ) The Prussian army was of near same size or a total of 6 cavalry brigades, 13 infantry regiments, including 2 of Grenadiers, and 2 field batteries.

Close view of the Prussian infantry centre. The regiments IR22 prince Maurice, IR13 Itzenplitz – the crack "Thunder and Blitz", IR7 vieux Bevern, and IR19 marcgrave Charles. Maréchal Schwerin at the head of his army – at this time still very much alive – gives orders to advance. The battle started with a Prussian advance. Meanwhile, Frederic, the king, preferred to remain behind Itzenplitz. His suite consists of 2 Leib-Hussars H2 in winter dress, and an aide-de-camp. 

Now it was Karl to decide how to react to what seemed to be an all out frontal attack. Without hesitation, he gave orders to have his infantry boldly advance to meet the Prussians. Stampach's cuirassiers charged the grenadiers on the Prussian left wing forcing them back in disorder. A good start for the Empress-Queens troops. Next followed an exchange of long range fire from the infantry's bataillon guns, which did little damage to either side.

Now Prussians tried to decide the issue with the bayonet and closed in on the Austrian infantry. My cavalry was deliberately kept at a distance to the Austrian, for all of my horse were rated with rather poor morale that day. I had put my faith into the superior morale Prussian infantry. Above scene shows a detail of the infantry clash. Lower left shows Prussian Möllendorff grenadiers (converged IR 9/10) engaging l'Empereur. To their left, a battery of light 12 pounders (Dieskau M1754). Modell is by Diez foundry, Austria. Behind you see marcgrave Charles. It engages Kurmainz. Shortly after, Schwerin, my Prussian army commander, realy did get killed during fire combat. 
– to be continued –

Austrian Infantry

Two of my newly painted regiments of the Empress-Queen’s formidable army.

The right one is the Hungarian regt. Haller (IR 31) and on the left it’s the German 1757 Sprecher (IR 22). In 1758 becoming Lacy’s regt..

Purist’s will certainly notice two glaring deviations from the accepted regulation looks of 7YW so entitled ‘German’ regiments uniforms & insignia. I will have to expand on this: First are the blue vests despite otherwise red facings. This is based on the information given in Friedrich Schirmer’s “Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756 – 1763”, the German Pengle & Hurt, so to say. It states turnbacks in red facing colour and blue vest’s/breeches in 1757. I did white linen breeches, often worn during summer, instead of woolen blue ones. Sprecher’s uniform apparently still following earlier dress from the War of Austrian Succession period. There is indeed sound evidence certain units still had those older style uniforms in 1756 and 57. The below contemporary painting being such evidence. It shows the surrender of Breslau garrison 24 December 1757. 

We are apparently witness of the moment the town is handed over by it’s commander baron von Sprecher, lieut. general. I believe it’s the gentleman saluting to the king. Though, this being my personal interpretation. Unfortunately I don’t know if there’s a colour copy of the original out. I only know of b/w ones. It was part of the collection of the former Breslau Provicial Museum and apparently did not survive the 2^nd World War. This makes it rather difficult to say which particular regiment is just parading past the Prussian guards. 

Note, this painting is by mistake subtitled as the 1742 surrender of Breslau elsewhere, such as in Betty Mitford’s “Frederick the Great”. There hadn’t been a garrison at all in 1742 that could have paraded out the city with all this pomp and circumstance as illustrated here. My copy derives from Hans Bleckwenn’s book “Unter dem Preussen-Adler etc.”. Mr. Bleckwenn dates it 1757 and takes it as rather authentic with regard to the Prussian uniforms we see. He doesn’t state much to the Austrian ones, besides being interesting to ‘connossieurs’ of the Austian army in particular. This regiment clearly has turnbacks, vests, and even breeches in facing colour. Note the officers and NCO’s do not have lapels. I didn't follow the drummers uniforms, that have white coats and livery lace on the arms. Mine is a "Moor" drummer and has a coat with reversed colours

Interesting is also the standarts carried by this unit. I decided for such a design that does not fit 1745 regulation pattern. I believe those colours in the painting are somewhat simplified on the artist’s side. I therefore used an example from an image of the 1745 “Hohenfriedberg trophies” from another souce that is based on the originals kept in the Potsdam Garrison Church then. It is white silk with red bars – the colours of the arch house of Austria – and the double headed eagle insegnia within a crowned golden cartouche. The Hungarian regimet Haller instead I did with a regular 1745 pattern white silk Life-Colour bearing the double headed crowned imperial eagle on the avers side (flag pole on the left) with the Emperor’s initials “FC” for “Francis co-regent” and “IM” for Roman “Emperor” and his crowned arms of Lorraine and Toscany in the centre enclosed by the chain of the order of the Golden Fleece. The revers side, instead, bearing the image of Virgin Mary. All regimental colours would have been of yellow silk and bearing the Emperors arms on the avers side, and those of the Empress-Queen’s arms on the revers side - that is the eagle without sword and cepter and the arms of Hungary on the left, Bohemia on the right, the arch house of Austria in the centre, and the initials “M” “T” for “Maria Theresia” within the eagle’s wings.

The above image being the cover of a miniatures box of Ochel's Kieler Zinnfiguren (www.kieler-zinnfiguren.de). Not sure if they still sell them this way. I liked the method of selling around 20 infantry miniatures in a box along with a painting guide.

Russian Artillery

Here are 4 pieces of Russian ordnance. Foreground right is a "Unicorn" howitzer. Propably the most famous of Russian guns during the 7YW. Scale for all seems to be a bit larger then for 30 mm. I purchased them at this years Kulmbach/Germany convention in August. No idea what foundry they are, but they are very well done casts. Distributer is a certain A. Fingrut, a Russian located in Pforzheim/Germany. Foreground left is an early 7YW 3-pdr regimental cannon with it's distinctive 2 Cohorn type 6-pdr mortars fixed to it's "fork-carriage" that does not require a limber. It had a 2-horse draught. Background left is a 12-pdr cannon and right is to be a heavy half pud Russian scale howitzer which would approx. resemble a German 16-pdr or French/English 8 inch class howitzer . The barrel, though, is a spare piece from an English foundry, but should do o.k. In the rear of the image, I have placed an Austrian 6-pdr "Falcon" of the innovative 1753 Feuerstein ordnance with 2 cannoniers to get a feel for the scales.

The Russian 3 pound regimental piece in close up view.

Close up view of the ‘Unicorn', which I take to be the 8-pdr piece. The carriage seems to be somewhat oversized, though. Wheels are o.k.

Austrian Artillery

Here are some Austrian guns of an earlier paint job this summer. All models are 30 mm scale by the Austrian foundry "Diez". Unfortunately, they do not sell online, but some of their extra fine class casts can be purchased at Berliner Zinnfiguren at www.zinnfiguren.com . The front piece is the 7-pdr light howitzer. The big one is a Lichtenstein/Feuerstein 24-pdr siege gun. Behind is the regular 6-pdr cannon. The 2 pieces in the right back ground are a self made 3-pdr regimental piece and the 12-pdr Feuerstein field cannon. All are Diez foundry except for the 3-pdr.

Below is a short review of my Austrian 1753 Lichtenstein ordnance. 

First is the 3-lb regimental piece 'Regiments Stück’. The piece being mounted on a 5 by 10 cm base for play. The model is a selfmade piece of which I did a total of 4. Carriage is balsa wood and metal fittings are made from cut aluminium, nails, and wire The wheels are foundry casts, and the barrel is a conversion from another barrel scaled to match the size.
To my taste, the Diez foundry cast barrel is scaled too skinny in the front part of the barrel, at it's muzzle ring section. The pole of the No. 1 gunner's rammer would have a larger diameter then the barrel, really. I didn't like that, so I just made my own model.

Above image is an illustration from the artillery manual. It shows the 3-pdr advancing. Not sure if this is 7YW period. The source doesn't date it. Gunners have white breeches. This may either be summer's dress white linen instead of the brown wool worn at other times, or this illustration might show post 7YW uniform of around 1769?!?. Also note the illustrated gun comes without the metal fittings on the wheels as with my model.

This is the M1753 6-pdr field gun or ’Falcon’. I did 2 of them to add into my artillery parc. Note the distinctive iron fittings in the front of the carriage. Those 4 rings to employ the advancing pole for manhandling the piece in action. My above self made 3-pdr model has only 2 of them as I failed to do more for technical matters. The gunners are part of 4 newly painted gun teams I did this summer. Miniatures are by Scholtz/Berliner Zinnfiguren. I did them with a rather light "wolfsgrau" (wolf-grey) shade of greyish brown, This should be more authentic a colour then my older miniatures manning the 3-pdr or the below 12-pdr field gun. The contemporary gouache illustration also serving as good reference. Gouaches on paper do not darken as do oil on canvas paintings, thus, preserve the original colours much better. I guess I will have to redo all of my older gunners and give them coats in lighter shade.

This is one of my two 12-pdr field guns. The gunners are mostly by Ochel foundry (www.kieler-zinnfiguren.de) painted many years ago.

This truly awesome giant cannon is the 24-pdr siege gun I purchased this summer. Overall barrel length was approx. 3 meters or 10 ft. Actually I wanted to buy a 3rd 12-pdr at the Diez booth, but all were sold. I then saw this wonderfull model and could not leave without buying it. Not sure if Diez got the carriage right. Note, it comes with an additional travelling trunnion position. According to Stephen Summerfield excellent research in his book "Napoleonic Artillery", just the 12 and 18-pdr carriages of the Lichtenstein ordnance had them, not the 24-pdr.

Profile view of the 24-pdr siege gun. The gunner miniatures are all now available at Berliner Zinnfiguren. It's a series of highly animated figures in "meleed by cavalry" motions. It is cannoniers from the German artillery regiment as well as artillery fusiliers. The latter can be distinguished by their gaitors instead of the boots worn by the cannoniers, and their white coloured waist belt cartrige box. The cannoniers having black ones.

This as the 7-lb light field howitzer, approx. 5 to 6 inch class with the French/English system of entitlement.

Prussian Infantry

Fusiliers of the Prussian regiment von Kreytzen (IR 40) in the process of being painted in close up view. I decided for a rather light shade of this regiments regulation facing colour entitled couleur de chair (flesh colour).

In the background, the entire 16 miniatures of Kreytzen fusiliers. Foundry is Scholtz/Berliner Zinnfiguren. Foreground shows my latest work in progress. It is to become Russian artillery. See more on this in the my post "Russian Artillery".