In order to illustrate Prussian ordnance of
the Seven Years' War with its true distinctive features and dimensions, it is
necessary to have a look at the 1717 designed ‘new range’ of ordnance, which
laid out most of the basic characteristics of all that can be entitled
distinctive Prussian in relation to other nations ordnance for the decades to
come. The below two sheets have been arranged to give an insight here.
I took the effort to also illustrate the
3-pounder field gun, for it is believed some pieces to this design did see
service during the Seven Years’ War, despite being obsolete ‘old school’ by
that time. The next sheet will give some insights to the general design of the
carriages. I am particularly happy to have unearthed an illustration of the
M1717 wedges (Schusskeile). The design is explained in Malinowsky & Bonin,
but only with another rare paper authored by Malinowsky, the so much needed
illustration could be found. The written description, only, with its many
outdated technical terms was found impossible to understand. Source is the
periodical Archiv für die Officiere der Königlich Preußischen Artillerie- und
Ingenieur-Corps, vol. 8, Berlin 1839. The Darmstadt State- and University
Library keeps a copy including the appendix foldouts that are missing with the
Google library copy. I hope my English wording is ok. Any corrections and
improving suggestions to English wording of the technical terms are highly
welcomed. I’m no engineer.
This carriage design remained in use till
well into the Seven Years' War. The carriages were furnished blue, and the
metal fittings were painted black. The tools and other equipment, such as
rammers, wedges, etc. were instead furnished odd grey. Constructors and
cartwrights kept modelling about minor details throughout the period, but in
general, this is how the guns looked like. The paired spokes arrangement was
found with the 3- and 6-pounders. The heavy guns had wheels with spokes in
ordinary arrangement. Only during the course of the Seven Years’ War, a new
carriage design seemed to have been introduced. I will get back to this issue
with the sheets to come. For the period up to 1759 and beyond, Prussian
carriages looked as illustrated. Below, I added a contemporary illustration of
the M1717/1722 3-pounder, found in a gunners’ manual dated approx. 1745 (source
is the collection of the Rastatt Army Museum/Germany).
This carriage is of the M1717 design, but
with bracket cheeks overall 5 D longer than my above illustration (+1 for the
trail and +4 for the centre section [Z]). My illustration is based entirely on the
details from Malinowsky & Bonin.
The below photo shows – to my understanding
– the single original Seven Years’ War carriage that survived to the present
day.
Its a 2-pounder piece of 1758 and belongs
to the collection of the Stockholm Army Museum / Sweden. From Hans Bleckwenn’s, Die friderizianischen Uniformen 1756 - 1786, we learn only this single piece
was fielded – i.e. a solitaire non-royal ordnance design. The barrel was cast
and its carriage assembled in Stettin. It was the private effort of a captain
von Seebach in an attempt to equip his militia bataillon with a cannon.
Apparently, the king refused to give Seebach’s unit a piece of his own royal
ordnance. It was soon lost in a combat against the Swedes. Bleckwenn also
provides the scale drawing to this piece. I don’t know the origin of Bleckwenn’s
sketch, so that I cannot tell the hen from the egg. The sketch, at least, does
give us the dimensions.
Most details of the carriage make a good
fit with afore described M1717 carriages. Just the non-rounded trail and the
use of only a single horizontal bolt near the centre transom deviate from the
regulations. Also the wedge design is somewhat special.
From 1738 on, a significant transformation
in Prussian gun construction took place. Prussian field cannons became much
lighter, thus, more mobile than the M1717 heavy ordnance. This was contrived by
reducing the charges, overall barrel length, and metal strength of the gun
tubes.
The Holtzmann 24-pounder served as master-design to which all other calibre pieces were to be proportioned. Several variants seem to have been cast and tested between 1738 and 1744, for the records give several different overall barrel weights for the pieces actually fielded. The below image from the Gohlke booklet served as the template for my illustration.
It took me a while to realize its caption is complete nonsense. The drawing is absolutely fine, and accepting it is really the 16 shots 24-pounder all dimensions start to make a lot of sense. The signifficant reduction of weight is quite obvious compared to the older early 18th century European standard ordnance illustrated with the two sample barrels. The new design was based on the widespread believe a chambered bore
design created much more gas pressure to the round then an ordinary bore design.
Based on this observation, Prussians concluded one could arrive at the same
power with less charge. Less gunpowder also allowed for the reduction of the
barrels metal strength. This way, the same number of guns could be fielded at
much less cost, or alternatively, the number of guns could be increased at same
cost. Indeed, a best price arrangement hard to resist, for it so much suited the
only now evolving Prussian battle tactics. Prussian infantry drill had arrived
at outstanding battlefield mobility. All that was missing was a numerous and
equally mobile artillery for best close support. Frederick was so enthusiastic
about these light pieces, that within a decade, all of the old heavy ordnance was
rigorously melted to provide the gunmetal for new casts, or expelled to the
arsenals to serve as fortress or siege cannon. By 1756 all Prussian field guns were
chambered bore pieces of mostly 16 shots length, a new 12-pounder 14 shots
long, and a super light 24-pounder only 12 shots long. The Beauvrye 3-pounder
(see below) was the single ordinary bore design remaining, and it can be
considered the master design of yet the next transformation of ordnance to come.
The below sheet examines such a light
chamber bore barrel design in somewhat more detail. I felt the need to have a
closer look, do a very close reading and recreate the true dimensions. The date
of introduction varies with the sources. Apparently, the guns were designed in
1738, but first serial casts commenced only in 1740.
Bataillon Guns
I will try to focus on those guns that were
most important either for their design or because they were fielded in larger
numbers. No less than six different models of 3-pounders were fielded during
the course of the war, including the old M1717 piece as well as around 38 Saxon
"Quick-Firer" barrels captured at Hohenfriedberg (1745) and adapted
to Prussian style by end of 1750. Captured Austrian models are not included
here. For easier identification, all pieces – i.e. more precisely the barrels –
are commonly named after their designer/constructor along with the date of
construction and/or its first serial casts.
On the eve of the war, summer 1756,
Prussians mobilized 240 bataillon guns for a total of 126 bataillons (incl.
Pionniers and some bataillons tasked for garrison duty not issued any pieces).
62 were newly cast 6-pounders replacing the same number of Holtzmann 3-pounders
with a cylindrical chamber bore. The remainder were all 3-pounders. In terms of
numbers, the Holtzmann M1740 conic chamber piece was the most common, amounting
to near 100 out of the 178 total. Its new and particular light construction
replaced the heavy M1717 long barrel pieces from 1740 on. The construction was
indeed found to be too light as the campaigns of 1744/1745 revealed. Its' shot
hardly carried 1.000 paces. With the widening of the chamber in order to take a
larger powder charge, its shot now carried up to 1.500 paces. Nevertheless,
after 1745/47, no new pieces were cast to this model, it seems. New designs
were given the preference instead. One such new design was the Beauvrye M1746
piece, which seems to have been designed in response to the shortcomings of the
Holtzmann M1740 piece. It had a longer barrel, but was still much lighter then
the old M1717 piece. From this model, only 18 casts at the Berlin foundry are
documented. Some more pieces may well have been cast, for these tables are
incomplete, but this model was fielded in much fewer numbers as the Holtzmann
piece. Also in 1746, general Linger designed a conic chamber barrel 20 shots
long and somewhat lighter then the Beauvrye piece. Apparently, now this new
Linger model was given the preference, as around 60 pieces are believed being cast
up till 1756. The light barrels seemed to have been mounted on an equally
lightened carriage. Bracket cheeks were shorter, and also the wheels were
scaled less high. The illustrated 42 inches wheel is based on the Beauvrye piece
illustration found in Gohlke, Geschichte der gesamten Feuerwaffen bis 1850. The Holtzmann 24-pounder had 51 inches wheels. Therefore the 2 remaining 6 and 12-pounder calibres must have had wheels scaled between these two extremes. See also below near contemporary painting “Seydlitz at Rossbach”.
The gun seen here can be identified either
as the Beauvrye or the Linger 3-pounder. The uniform details look all rather
authentic. The cannon may well be just as authentic. Note the gunners
‘flail-rammer’ as well as the bricoles slung around the gunners’ shoulders.
This gun also comes with rather small wheels.
The Beauvrye piece is of interest because
according to a paper by Hans Bleckwenn it is quite certain that it was attached
to the Berlin region infantry regiments Prinz Heinrich (IR 35), Münchow (IR
36), Fredericks' own Praetorians ( IR 15/I. Leibgarde), and possibly also the
other Guards bataillons in 1756. They had them with all their Potsdam exercises
during the early 1750’s, as it is recorded in a diary of the Guards officer von
Scheelen (see: Hans Bleckwenn / Engl. translation by Digby Smith: Prussian
Field Gun Models in Relation to General Tactics. Original articles in the
Zeitschrift für Heereskunde, 1957, Numbers 154, 155, 156, 157. 1958/1 Jan-Feb.)
As I am discussing the Prussian range of early Seven Years’ War bataillon guns, this chapter can be completed with also presenting the M1754 light 6-pounder by Dieskau.
Holtzmann’s M1740 range also included a 16 shots 6-pounder, but only few have been fielded during the campaigns of 1741 and 1742. It was only little more effective then the 3-pounder but requiered more horses for it’s draught. For this reason it was removed from the field inventory. The remaining Linger 3-pounder had a 20 shots barrel (144 cm) and should have looked much like the Beauvrye piece.
The sole type of bataillon gun not disscused being a 1-pounder Amusette. Such a piece was initially allocated to the Prussian Frei-Bataillons raised during the Seven Years’ War at a ratio of 1 piece per bataillon. From 1759 or 1760 on, they all received 3-pounders instead. Moreoften captured Austrian pieces. Little information could be found here. The first pieces used were really captured Saxon models found in the arsenals of Dresden and Freiberg. With near certainty, the carriage was a `wheelbarrow` type, in which a horse could be harnessed between the shafts. This type of carriage was known all across Europe and fielded with many armies. In Britain it was entitled Galloper gun.
Also of interest may be the innovative limbers, that came with the Prussian bataillon guns. A combination of limber and ammunition cart.
Position Guns
In 1756, and all through 1757, Prussian heavy or ‘Position Artillery’ consisted of chamber bore 12-pounders, either 16 or 14 shots long, and a super light 24-pounder. Furthermore several 10/11-pounder howitzer models. The first sheet presents the 16 shot barrel 12-pounders.
Once more an image of the ‘real pieces’. Above image shows a number of barrels on display at the Vienna Heeresgeschichtliches Museum (HGM). No 1 is a Dieskau M1759 ‘Austrian-type’ 12-pounder, 18 shots long. A cast of 1781 it seems, as per the little information I was able to aquire from the museum. This would be confirmed by the shape of the rounded button which started to appear with casts of 1774 and later. No 2 could be identified as the M1758 ‘Austrian-type’ 12-pounder. A 16 shots barrel (182 cm) Apparently a cast of 1758. It's weight, as per the barrel's engraving is 1,680 pounds (785.4 kg). No 3 behind is a Dieskau 6-pounder M1768/71, 18 shots long (or more preceisely 18.2). Again a cast of after 1774 because of it’s rounded button. This piece came without holds/griffins. And to the rear No 4 we have a mighty 24-pounder. As per it’s mouldings, the piece should be either M1754 or the earlier M1717. Both were quite similar. No 5 is an Austrian 6-pounder. The non sculpted holds and the rounded button would also make it as a 1770 or later cast. The barrel in the left foreground is a Russian Unicorn (date of cast unknown). the bore is larger then the Prussian 12-pdr next to it. Should be a 15 cm class calibre, roughly equalling a 24-pdr bore. As one can see with this rather random arrangement of barrels, the Prussian barrels do have a presence of their own, and do stand out from the crowd by the sheer size of the sculpted griffins. In particular the 24-pounder looks awesome.
The next piece I like to introduce is the rather special design ‘super-light’ 24-pounder M1744.
With the available written record I was able to recreate it‘s true dimensions, for not a single image could be found so far. The principle dimensions of the barrel as well as the carriage should be all rather authentic, and about as close as you can get it. Just some of the minor issues are speculative. Do not pin me down to the exact height or width of applied iron metal sheets, nor the actual number of nails, recommended to fit all to the carriage. Next to the 12-pounders, this piece, along with the equally eccentric 10/11-pounder ‘howitzer-gun’ designed the same year were meant to be the mainstay of the Prussian ‘heavy’ field artillery with the early Seven Years‘ War campaigns, all through 1758. Both were fielded for the first time with the Prussian invasion of Bohemia in 1744.
The 24-pounder is said to have done particular good service at the battles of Hohenfriedberg (1745) and Roßbach (1757). From 1758 on, it gradually became out of use, as it was replaced by the introduction of a new range of more powerful 12-pounders. Next is the 10/11-pounder ‘howitzer-gun’. Both pieces just belong together. They have been designed the same year, and their special construction, along with Holtzmann‘s Klemmkartätschen entitled grape rounds – especially designed for these two pieces – can be deduced only from an understanding of their intended tactical employment.
Frederick was a great promoter of cannister and grape, in favour of ordinary shot, to be employed with the guns in a given action. To his observation, with the early Silesian Wars‘ battles, cannister and grape did far more damage as roundshot. But cavalry could not really be harmed with conventional cannister rounds at medium ranges. It was the Austrian cavalry, that had been the biggest threat to the Prussians in the battles of Mollwitz 1741, and Chotusitz, 1742. This shortcoming of Prussian 1740 ordnance must have been the inspiration to create a range of ordnance capable of firng destructive grape rounds out to longer distances. The naked figures expressed with the two illustrated barrels leave no doubt to the intention of their design. Frederick‘s 1749 tactical instructions gives the most evident hintsight. He advised to place a battery of 4 24-pounders and 4 10/11-pounder howitzers on the wings of the infantry line. From this position they were tasked to aim at the oposing cavalry in particular by employing Holtzmann‘s Klemmkartätschen.
In addition to the long barreled 10/11-pounder howitzer, also shorter barrels of approx. 6.5 D length were designed.
Above image shows a Prussian 10-pounder howitzer barrel on display at the Vienna Heeresgeschichtliches Museum (HGM). It should be the 'heavy' M1766 for the siege artillery, which is revealed by the rather massive dimensions of the first reinforce. The barrel was approx. 6.5D long (108 cm).
Of less importance is below 18-pounder. The principal howitzer piece of the pre-1740 period. The last 10 pieces to this design were cast at the Berlin foundry in 1744, it seems. A few were mobilized during the SYW. However, the mainstay of howitzers was the 10 or 11-pounder during the early campaigns and the light 7-pounders fielded in growing numbers from 1758 on.
I needed to do the piece in order to understand the method of proportioning a howitzer carriage in relation to it‘s barrel. Most turorials of the period simply state they were quite similar to the proportioning of a cannon carriage, and that would be about all that is said. Also below illustration is part of this research work. It is based on the single draft of a Prussian howitzer, I was able to find. In fact, 2 such pieces must have been part of Feld-Maréchal Lehwaldt‘s East-Prussian Corps of 1757 – after the battle of Groß-Jägersdorf – as replacement of the 10-pounder howitzer pieces lost in this battle.
more pieces to follow …
