A typical gun tended to fire in a relatively flat plane (direct fire) whether it was smoothbore or rifled. A howitzer fired more at an arc which enabled it to shoot over obstacles (indirect fire) and at the far end of the spectrum is the mortar which fires at a high arc and a more limited range. Both are considered cannon but (possibly) not the mortar.
The key cog on the crew was the gunner as he was the one that aimed the piece and actually oversaw operations of the gun. The other personnel were trained to be able to operate at any position/positions as needed (at least that's how the Marines did it 45+ years ago). In a pinch, even infantrymen could be pressed into service to serve the piece.Thanks for the explanation.
Was an artilleryman an artilleryman an artilleryman? Or did crews, or at least the officers tend to only be trained in operation of one type of gun (mortar/howitzer/field gun)?
In a pinch, even infantrymen could be pressed into service to serve the piece.
I bet that he saw that as a setback.
I bet that he saw that as a setback.
In a flying or horse artillery battery everyone rode horses and in a regular artillery battery only the three /two men on the teams pulling the gun limbers or caissons rode and everyone else walked.Well, Buckner Battery was more of a "flying artillery" for cavalry.
I think this same Alabama regiment had notes in their files that they were loaned to a ship or to some kind of construction.
This was part of General J. R. Chalmers' Cavalry Division. So I picture them either riding a horse, driving a wagon or pulling a gun.In a flying or horse artillery battery everyone rode horses and in a regular artillery battery only the three /two men on the teams pulling the gun limbers or caissons rode and everyone else walked.
This next one is a mountain howitzer hauled by 2 horses.
She has a busy month coming up.Field Guns and Howitzers are both considered cannons as @redbob stated.
I just put mine on a trailer
A typical gun tended to fire in a relatively flat plane (direct fire) whether it was smoothbore or rifled. A howitzer fired more at an arc which enabled it to shoot over obstacles (indirect fire) and at the far end of the spectrum is the mortar which fires at a high arc and a more limited range. Both are considered cannon but (possibly) not the mortar.
Howitzers can fire direct fire and strictly speaking most modern field guns are guns/howitzers as was the Napoleon. While howitzers are often shorter barreled they are still as effective at shorter ranges when used in direct fire and yes they could fire canister when used as direct fire weapons.Do howitzers have the ability to engage in "direct fire"? For all of those engagements where field guns are used, would howitzers have worked just as well? Can they fire off cannister? For instance, how would a group of howitzers have fared on Cemetery Ridge on day 3 versus the rifles and napoleons?
As a gun, when you get into longer ranged weapons; they have to fire at a higher elevation as gravity affects the projectile during flight. If they fired at a flat trajectory, gravity would force the projectile down before it reached its longer ranged target.Also, while we're on the subject, what is a columbiad and how does it fit into the 3 main groups of guns?
Also, while we're on the subject, what is a columbiad and how does it fit into the 3 main groups of guns?