Rate of Fire

[RetiredCanuck]

Reading the above posts on the need for taking short cuts to increase rate of fire reminds me of a local story n the risk of doing so.

Some years back there was an outdoor performance of the 1812 Overture at Ontario Place on Toronto's shoreline.
The performance took advantage of the very close proximity to Fork York (an 1812-era reconstruction).
It was decided to use the fort's artillery for the cannonade at the climax of the concert.
IIRC they had a wrong size sponge for one piece and a young summer student employee paid the price for that error.
He had his hand blown off loading a second shot into a still-hot bore.

Not 100% the fault of rate of fire, but you can see my point. There is no substitute for safety.

Here's a link:

A 22-year-old guard at an historic Canadian fort was... - UPI Archives

A 22-year-old guard at an historic Canadian fort was in serious condition after a cannon misfired, blowing off his hand during a symphony performance of the...

www.upi.com

 

[Rhea Cole]

As someone else mentioned, how fast you could fire isn't always going to be the same as how fast you should fire. I'm not sure how you'd accurately determine a specific unit's rate of fire other than by dividing the number of rounds reported expended by the time they were known to have been engaged. Even that number would just be an average and not necessarily show how quickly or slowly they were firing at various times.

Here is what Henry Hunt had to say about rates of fire -


In small skirmishes between 300 and 400 rounds per battery are expended; the fire, according to the reports, frequently averaging, and sometimes exceeding, one round per minute for each gun. In general engagements batteries have been known to expend all the ammunition in their chests in a little over an hour and a half. An officer who expends ammunition in this manner proves his ignorance of the proper use of his arm, and a want of capacity for the command of a battery. He also incurs a heavy responsibility by throwing a whole battery out of use, and should be held to answer for the consequences. There has been an improvement in this respect, but there is still too great a consumption of ammunition. It is not so much the loss of the ammunition that should be considered - limited as is the amount which an army can transport - as the loss of effect from too distant and too rapid firing. In no case, except when firing canister at short ranges, should the rate exceed one round from each gun in two minutes; and that rate should only be reached at critical moments, when the distance, numbers, and formation of the enemy are such that the fire is sure to be effective. At all other times one round in four to six minutes is as rapid firing as should be permitted. The value of the rifled cannon consists principally in its accuracy. Accuracy requires careful pointing, with close observation of the effect, and these require time. Twelve shots in an hour at an object over 1,000 yards distant, the time being spent in careful loading and pointing, will produce better results than fifty shots will ordinarily produce from the same gun in the same time. If a heavy artillery fire is required it should be obtained, not by rapid firing, but by bringing a large number of guns into action, and firing each with the greatest accuracy attainable.

By command of Brigadier-General Hunt
Arty. Hdqrs., Army of the Potomac,
January 15, 1864.

Amen.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Reading the above posts on the need for taking short cuts to increase rate of fire reminds me of a local story n the risk of doing so.

Some years back there was an outdoor performance of the 1812 Overture at Ontario Place on Toronto's shoreline.
The performance took advantage of the very close proximity to Fork York (an 1812-era reconstruction).
It was decided to use the fort's artillery for the cannonade at the climax of the concert.
IIRC they had a wrong size sponge for one piece and a young summer student employee paid the price for that error.
He had his hand blown off loading a second shot into a still-hot bore.

Not 100% the fault of rate of fire, but you can see my point. There is no substitute for safety.

Here's a link:

A 22-year-old guard at an historic Canadian fort was... - UPI Archives

A 22-year-old guard at an historic Canadian fort was in serious condition after a cannon misfired, blowing off his hand during a symphony performance of the...

www.upi.com

It is remarkable how many traumatic amputations have occurred during the burning of Moscow.

The Trafalgar Gun Company in England has an elegant solution. Fiberglass shells indistinguishable from real 32 pounders hide eight gas cannon. The individual guns are fired electronically. It is both safe & highly effective.

 

[Rhea Cole]

I'm sure there are a few artillery experts who could provide a more definitive response.

I understand an Ordnance Rifle could fire off two aimed shots in a little more than a minute - say one every 32 seconds, presumably maximum fire over a short time period.

During the grand cannonade at Gettysburg on July 3, one 10-pounder Parrott expended 100 rounds in about 90 minutes, or one round every 54 seconds in a sustained and methodical bombardment during an extended period, but not while under direct attack by infantry.

Of course, a 10-pounder Napoleon could be rapidly double-loaded with canister to repel an attack at close-range, or even triple-loaded although that might overturn the piece.

At Franklin a battery of 3" ordinance rifles prepared for the close approach of Hood's infantry by loading "dummies."

In that case the guns were loaded with a charge, solid bolt, double canister & socks filled with Minnie balls all the way to the muzzle.

A crazed horse broke through the abatis of felled sweet gum trees. The tangle of branches was replete with shiny black needle sharp spikes. The red leg veterans calmly allowed the attackers to crowd into the gap.

" Fire! " The report, "… was followed by the sound of other bones."

Eli Lilly's battery was attached to Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry armed with seven shot Spencer repeaters. The ammunition chests were repacked, replacing timed rounds with canister.

At Hoover's Gap & at Chickamauga the bugler sounded, "with long range canister, LOAD!" #'s 1 & 2 loaded a charge, solid bolt & three canister. Forced into a dry wash, Longstreet's men were pinned down by rapid rifle fire. On the flank Lilly's Battery unmasked & scoured the ditch from end to end.

Surveying the aptly named "Ditch of Death" filled with tangled bodies Wilder was shocked at what his tactics had accomplished.

For both smoothbore & rifles a charge, solid shot & two canister was the load fired at cavalry, artillery or massed infantry.

To breach a wall or door both rifled or smoothbore would be loaded with blank charges & the muzzle jammed against the target.

The variety of tactics used by artillery was far more complex than generally understood.

 

[SeanMichaelChick]

Thank you everyone. This has been a big help indeed. When I decide which battery to go with (which may take awhile as Shiloh is in the background now) I will let everyone know.

 

[lelliott19]

Thank you everyone. This has been a big help indeed. When I decide which battery to go with (which may take awhile as Shiloh is in the background now) I will let everyone know.

What is in the foreground right now? Do you have a new book on the horizon?

 

[SeanMichaelChick]

What is in the foreground right now? Do you have a new book on the horizon?

Yes I have a short Shiloh book coming out soon. I am writing three other books. It has been a years long process but I want it to be definitive.

Right now I am doing Petersburg books for Emerging Civil War and that is my main concentration until fall next year.