I was wondering if you think five men is the minimum number for a gun crew. I am truly impressed with the American Revolution artillery, as they were for the most part field guns not howitzers and mortars. In the case of the former, artillerists had to fire straight ahead at enemy pieces, fortifications, or columns, with the risk of being exposed to responding musket and cannon shot.
Matthew Kuchinski a majority of the time the cannon was behind fortifications and has barrels filled with debris or dirt in front of it but not in the way of the shot our the loaders
Gary Daniel but what’s the point to keep moving it to keep adjusting your aim. If you’ve got the right aim, you should fortify to at least not get shot by rankers
Gary Daniel first of all, these guns were light enough to be pulled by men. Horses were too much. And second, if you move it every 1 or 2 shots you’re not gonna hit you’re target too well because they’re most likely moving. If a line of infrantry was heading towards them, take the highest amount of shots and if needed, move it out of the way. Also, if you’re on a hill, you should stay in the same spot. Why move it? Granted if this cannon is shooting at say a base, you should move it to prevent another cannon from hitting you.
Gary Daniel yeah, but if you’re not hauling it on march, but if you have to move it during battle (for reasons I previously exclaimed), might as well have the men pull it. Granted, I am way young for re-enacting and I’ve never tried to pull one of these kind of cannons. Also, I thought that the soldiers would roll the gun back and forth in the ground to create a sort of “U” shape to sort of cradle the cannon. But I’m sure this was if they didn’t have the chains back then, which was probably rope, on the wheel. Lastly, like in the video, soldiers could have filled maybe a bucket with rocks or tied some rocks to the cannon to at least keep it from possibly hitting someone’s foot. (I did restate a lot of the words, so bare with me, and tell me if I sound like I’m writing an argumentive paragraph)
The thing about the Total War games is that they make it seem like musket and cannon shot need to be rammed down for a very long time, because they try to replicate the *time* required for the process, but only include one of the steps!
They do that because otherwise they need to make more complex animations with more detailed models, which take more space and power to fully run. You aren't watching troops reloading most of the time anyway and you are more focused on the *feel* rather than doing 100% accurate potrayal, so it makes sense.
@@BrandonF also for balance reasons I mean in company of heroes 2 for one of the german tanks that fires a massive shell like rocket normally has a 12 round drum for easy reloads of the clip long ass pain to load up the whole clip but in the game they had to make it so that the whole crew has to get out of the tank to load up the shot making them vulrnable to be shot at by infantry etc and have it decrewed and the veachle vulrnable to be taken.
It was great to meet you in person at this event! I am glad you were able to make this video to share. I love to learn about history and I always learn something new at Wentworth House events. Take care and keep up the good work. signed - an "older" fan :)
I find this incredibly interesting. I reenact on an Artillery piece for AWI and the drill/safety process we go through is different in small ways to this one following the safety rules of the Brigade of the American Revolution.
Very nice! I wonder if at some point you could do a video on the process of aiming canon - what was used to estimate distance and the like. That might be an interesting topic.
I know this video is a bit oldish but I feel like I have to say my words on it. I reenact Austrian field artillery of regiment Wied and I have 2 points to say. 1) we rarely use a match for priming and I believe it is more historicaly acurrate, mainly becase a bit of powder is cheaper. 2) These guys really took their time, austrian crew has to be able to fire at least 3 shots per minute with a 3-pounder. I wouldn't bring this up if you didn't glorify their speed in the text :D
Andrew Farrell as far as I understand those would be in self contained packages by the Napoleonic wars, so not too different I assume. Don't quote me on this though, I'm not 100% certain.
Was in a gun crew firing live rounds from a smooth bore Civil War cannon years ago in the NSSA. Notice the fellow with the rammer holding same. He is correctly cupping the ramrod without hooking his thumb OVER the ramrod. This is important as in the event of a premature detonation of the gun, having one's thumb over the ramrod could cause the loss of an entire arm, cupping the rammer or sponge on the other hand would save your arm. Also, note the fellow with the linstock standing directly behind a wheel of the gun. He should be standing to the side. Here they are firing blanks and as you note, the gun hardly moves at all. In fifing real rounds, the gun rocks backwards quite a ways which woukd assure serious damage to the linstock man. In NSSA matches we also always had a timer who counted off the minutes betwern shots - it may have been 4 or 5 - before resuming worming and sponging the gun as a further precaution against a premature detonation. Yes, we all opened our mouths wide before the fuse was struck to prevent ear damage. We fired cast zinc balls or concrete filled metal beverage cans.
First it would sit for a few minutes. Then It would be re pricked and primed. Tried to fire again if a misfire happens again then it would be doused with water and taken off the field. Then the cartridge removed with the worm. If a ball was used as in real life back then a special worm would of been used to remove the ball first as well
Aluminium foil wasn't available back then so I'm left wondering what they did use, waxed cloth perhaps, and if that got burned up by the powder charge.
Apart from the added complexities of the breech-ropes and gun-tackles, one major difference between naval and land-based guns is that naval guns would include additional wadding inserted after the round goes in, to ensure that it doesn't roll out of the barrel as the ship rocks back and forth--IIRC this would also be done with a land-based gun being fired in depression (i.e. downward from the top of a hill or something).
I've always been more of a Late Medieval man myself, at least in terms of reenacting, but I'm a big fan of military history in general; my knowledge of cannonry mainly extends to what I've binge-read. Also, hey, I'm from Arizona as well! (Albeit I've moved since then, but still.)
Brian Wyters for modern purposes, to “decommission” an artillery piece that will no longer be fired. If there is metal fatigue in the piece or even if the piece is being donated to a museum as a display piece, needs to be made inoperable.
Hey I figured you aren’t ready comments from the last AC3 video. So I commented here in hopes you’d read it. Just FYI, when you’re in a fight Don’t hold The party button. When the triangle above an enemy is red, just tap the party button (B). Then whilst in slo motion, press X to instant kill, B to throw, and Y to use your pistol.
mygoldn Gaming figured as much, thanks for confirming. I wonder if muslin could fill in for linen, its cheaper and may have similar characteristics as linen. You wouldn't want to use it around spectators of course, but maybe for experimental authenticity.
"Spiking the guns" is the general term, and it does indeed generally involve hammering a spike or nail into the touch-hole (and, if you have the time, filing off the head so it can't be pulled out with pliers), but can also encompass other measures to render the gun unusable, like packing the bore with mud, pouring molten lead down the touch-hole, or removing/destroying various vital bits of the carriage. It all depends on how much time you have available.
Interesting video! These guns are small, 3 pounders. They have limbers? Or caissons?(Prussian 3 pounders in the middle-late XVIIIth century are had limbers, called "protze"...But french guns just using small two-wheeled gun-carts. Even Napoleonic times...) Or cannonballs and powder are just hold in that two chest on the two side of the barrel? Plus an battery horse cart/wagon maybe... These small guns are regimental or battalion guns? (Most small guns in that era are regimental or battalion level, attached to infantry. Bigger guns are in usually independent companies/batteries, mostly mixed ones: guns+howitzers...) I think, lots of questions for the next video...
Hello Brandon. I'm new here, great channel. In 1789 a regiment, the NSWCorps was formed for service in "Botany Bay" but recruitment wasn't easy. They solved this by signing up young deserters from Savoy Military prison. The Corps was not highly respected by anyone, yet in 1808 they marched on Government House in Sydney Town and arrested Her Majesty's representative, Governor Bligh. Anywhere else in the empire, the leaders of such a mutiny would have been executed but they just received a slap on the wrist and were cashiered. Patronage was a factor, but usually that had limits. What do others make of it?
N.B. the mutiny was planned for and launched on the 20th anniversary of the colony's foundation by an ambitious and clever ex corpsman, who probably gambled on Bligh's past, colouring any future enquiry.
That would make a great potato gun! Do you guys ever practice with targets and live ammo? I shoot my 1851 Navy Cap and ball revolver when I get to an outdoor range. They are fun to shoot and accurate with practice. It smacks steel gongs pretty hard! I would never want to get shot with it! There are guys on UA-cam that are pretty good with muskets. Did they use cannon balls or a few pounds of buck shot? How accurate can a good gun crew shoot that cannon?
I believe to indicate that he is prepared to move on to the next step. I have no idea if this is proper to the period or a modern safety practice, but either way a wise move.
Hello Brandon I was wondering is that are you American,I to told that you live somewhere in Manhattan however you continually calls things that Americans wouldn't call, such as rather then saying the Revolutionary war you use the title the American war for Independence.
Could you do a video on commands given to common soilders of the napoleonic and American revolutionary periods?
this is great for "TEXT BOOK" Firing, things do happen very differently when in action.
I wonder why you remind me of Lindybeige so much
He's an American Lindybeige. I love it
One thing I love is the sound of the cannon going off, very satisfied Pop
First into Bastogne
O heck wrong time era
Derptank mission failed, we'll get em next time
I was wondering if you think five men is the minimum number for a gun crew. I am truly impressed with the American Revolution artillery, as they were for the most part field guns not howitzers and mortars. In the case of the former, artillerists had to fire straight ahead at enemy pieces, fortifications, or columns, with the risk of being exposed to responding musket and cannon shot.
Matthew Kuchinski a majority of the time the cannon was behind fortifications and has barrels filled with debris or dirt in front of it but not in the way of the shot our the loaders
Gary Daniel but what’s the point to keep moving it to keep adjusting your aim. If you’ve got the right aim, you should fortify to at least not get shot by rankers
Gary Daniel first of all, these guns were light enough to be pulled by men. Horses were too much. And second, if you move it every 1 or 2 shots you’re not gonna hit you’re target too well because they’re most likely moving. If a line of infrantry was heading towards them, take the highest amount of shots and if needed, move it out of the way. Also, if you’re on a hill, you should stay in the same spot. Why move it? Granted if this cannon is shooting at say a base, you should move it to prevent another cannon from hitting you.
Gary Daniel also sorry. I don’t mean to like I’m challenging you. I just didn’t read the whole comment before I started writing
Gary Daniel yeah, but if you’re not hauling it on march, but if you have to move it during battle (for reasons I previously exclaimed), might as well have the men pull it. Granted, I am way young for re-enacting and I’ve never tried to pull one of these kind of cannons. Also, I thought that the soldiers would roll the gun back and forth in the ground to create a sort of “U” shape to sort of cradle the cannon. But I’m sure this was if they didn’t have the chains back then, which was probably rope, on the wheel. Lastly, like in the video, soldiers could have filled maybe a bucket with rocks or tied some rocks to the cannon to at least keep it from possibly hitting someone’s foot. (I did restate a lot of the words, so bare with me, and tell me if I sound like I’m writing an argumentive paragraph)
Looks like the artillery in Napoleon Total War skips a few steps.
What!!!!! you mean you don't just toss a ball in without any powder and ram it down?
;)
The thing about the Total War games is that they make it seem like musket and cannon shot need to be rammed down for a very long time, because they try to replicate the *time* required for the process, but only include one of the steps!
They do that because otherwise they need to make more complex animations with more detailed models, which take more space and power to fully run. You aren't watching troops reloading most of the time anyway and you are more focused on the *feel* rather than doing 100% accurate potrayal, so it makes sense.
@@BrandonF also for balance reasons I mean in company of heroes 2 for one of the german tanks that fires a massive shell like rocket normally has a 12 round drum for easy reloads of the clip long ass pain to load up the whole clip but in the game they had to make it so that the whole crew has to get out of the tank to load up the shot making them vulrnable to be shot at by infantry etc and have it decrewed and the veachle vulrnable to be taken.
@@Mandemon1990 also it is for balance reasons to you know. never forget that as well.
It was great to meet you in person at this event! I am glad you were able to make this video to share. I love to learn about history and I always learn something new at Wentworth House events. Take care and keep up the good work. signed - an "older" fan :)
It was lovely meeting you, as well! Thank you!
Up where I do reenactments, we have a fairly commonly sized cannon. I’ve fired one of them and it’s loud, but cool and impressive. Excellent video!
AWEESOOMEEH!
Also I didnt know Jack Black was a Bombardier!
I find this incredibly interesting. I reenact on an Artillery piece for AWI and the drill/safety process we go through is different in small ways to this one following the safety rules of the Brigade of the American Revolution.
Your videos just keep better and better!
Very nice! I wonder if at some point you could do a video on the process of aiming canon - what was used to estimate distance and the like. That might be an interesting topic.
I know this video is a bit oldish but I feel like I have to say my words on it. I reenact Austrian field artillery of regiment Wied and I have 2 points to say. 1) we rarely use a match for priming and I believe it is more historicaly acurrate, mainly becase a bit of powder is cheaper. 2) These guys really took their time, austrian crew has to be able to fire at least 3 shots per minute with a 3-pounder. I wouldn't bring this up if you didn't glorify their speed in the text :D
What was the cloth on the other end of the worm used for?
Hey Brandon wonderful video sir, i would like to suggest if you could do one on the Prussian drill of the goose step and why other nations do it?
Are there any differences between loading round shot vs grape shot vs chain shot or any other ammunition?
Andrew Farrell as far as I understand those would be in self contained packages by the Napoleonic wars, so not too different I assume. Don't quote me on this though, I'm not 100% certain.
There are no differences between loading roundball or grapeshot.
Same process.
Was in a gun crew firing live rounds from a smooth bore Civil War cannon years ago in the NSSA. Notice the fellow with the rammer holding same. He is correctly cupping the ramrod without hooking his thumb OVER the ramrod. This is important as in the event of a premature detonation of the gun, having one's thumb over the ramrod could cause the loss of an entire arm, cupping the rammer or sponge on the other hand would save your arm. Also, note the fellow with the linstock standing directly behind a wheel of the gun. He should be standing to the side. Here they are firing blanks and as you note, the gun hardly moves at all. In fifing real rounds, the gun rocks backwards quite a ways which woukd assure serious damage to the linstock man. In NSSA matches we also always had a timer who counted off the minutes betwern shots - it may have been 4 or 5 - before resuming worming and sponging the gun as a further precaution against a premature detonation. Yes, we all opened our mouths wide before the fuse was struck to prevent ear damage. We fired cast zinc balls or concrete filled metal beverage cans.
and what are NSSA matches?
@@TheManofthecrossNorth South Skirmish Association - compete in shooting competitions with original or reproduction civil war guns.
@@thomaszaccone3960 ah so that's what it is thanks for the info on the name.
Way cool my friend. In wartime a very dangerous job being an artillery man.
So how many times coulld they fire in a minut if the enemy are closing in.
Historically, what were powder charges placed in? Linen bags?
hey brandon F. can you post a video showing all the british infantry command's in the 17th century
How would someone clean out a misfire in a Canon? Like maybe the powder was wet or something
Yilin Wang I was wondering that too.....
Good question
First it would sit for a few minutes. Then It would be re pricked and primed. Tried to fire again if a misfire happens again then it would be doused with water and taken off the field. Then the cartridge removed with the worm. If a ball was used as in real life back then a special worm would of been used to remove the ball first as well
Hmm, sounds like a good topic for the next video...
Brandon F. Yes Brandon yes it does
As soon as I saw those guys dragging that cannon, I thought: "Cross-Fit, 18th-century style."
Great video! Will you make a follow up video of gunnery practice in a naval context?
Hey Brandon so would you say the 3lb grasshopper was the most widely used cannon during the revolutionary war?
Aluminium foil wasn't available back then so I'm left wondering what they did use, waxed cloth perhaps, and if that got burned up by the powder charge.
Mostly used linen or in some cases loose powder as there was wadding also used
OK what about the naval guns is it the same?
Apart from the added complexities of the breech-ropes and gun-tackles, one major difference between naval and land-based guns is that naval guns would include additional wadding inserted after the round goes in, to ensure that it doesn't roll out of the barrel as the ship rocks back and forth--IIRC this would also be done with a land-based gun being fired in depression (i.e. downward from the top of a hill or something).
I've always been more of a Late Medieval man myself, at least in terms of reenacting, but I'm a big fan of military history in general; my knowledge of cannonry mainly extends to what I've binge-read. Also, hey, I'm from Arizona as well! (Albeit I've moved since then, but still.)
Be impressed if you ever have a chance to see this personally. Not easy. Five would have been a minimum crew and the ideal was 8.
Tell me, Brandon F. how exactly does one spike a gun?
I'm not Brandon, but its done by hammering a nail into the touch hole and filing it flush so it can't be gripped with pliers.
huh, thanks man.
The others have got it right! But I'll be discussing that same topic in the next artillery video.
Why would you spike a gun?
Brian Wyters for modern purposes, to “decommission” an artillery piece that will no longer be fired. If there is metal fatigue in the piece or even if the piece is being donated to a museum as a display piece, needs to be made inoperable.
Brandon Can you do a video About starforts?!
In your intro, in the first part with the Victorian era British soldiers marching is that an original film if so what year was it made?
wait, how would you scuttle the cannon? I saw a hammer and a long nail like thing? Do they plug up the flash hole?
Basically, yeah. Makes it a ton of scrap metal unless it gets some serious TLC.
Any chance you could play ultimate general civil war?
0:12 top 10 anime deaths
Hey I figured you aren’t ready comments from the last AC3 video. So I commented here in hopes you’d read it. Just FYI, when you’re in a fight Don’t hold The party button. When the triangle above an enemy is red, just tap the party button (B). Then whilst in slo motion, press X to instant kill, B to throw, and Y to use your pistol.
I read all of the comments! Just don't have time to respond to them all.
Why do reenactors use aluminium foil rather than the original linen? Is it just cleaner or is it a safety concern?
It is a lot safer since there's less chance of a rouge spark lighting anything up. And also cost , it would get very expensive doing it that way.
mygoldn Gaming figured as much, thanks for confirming. I wonder if muslin could fill in for linen, its cheaper and may have similar characteristics as linen. You wouldn't want to use it around spectators of course, but maybe for experimental authenticity.
How do you scuttle one of the guns?
"Spiking the guns" is the general term, and it does indeed generally involve hammering a spike or nail into the touch-hole (and, if you have the time, filing off the head so it can't be pulled out with pliers), but can also encompass other measures to render the gun unusable, like packing the bore with mud, pouring molten lead down the touch-hole, or removing/destroying various vital bits of the carriage. It all depends on how much time you have available.
Interesting video! These guns are small, 3 pounders. They have limbers? Or caissons?(Prussian 3 pounders in the middle-late XVIIIth century are had limbers, called "protze"...But french guns just using small two-wheeled gun-carts. Even Napoleonic times...) Or cannonballs and powder are just hold in that two chest on the two side of the barrel? Plus an battery horse cart/wagon maybe... These small guns are regimental or battalion guns? (Most small guns in that era are regimental or battalion level, attached to infantry. Bigger guns are in usually independent companies/batteries, mostly mixed ones: guns+howitzers...)
I think, lots of questions for the next video...
Hello Brandon. I'm new here, great channel.
In 1789 a regiment, the NSWCorps was formed for service in "Botany Bay" but recruitment wasn't easy.
They solved this by signing up young deserters from Savoy Military prison.
The Corps was not highly respected by anyone, yet in 1808 they marched on Government House in Sydney Town and arrested Her Majesty's representative, Governor Bligh. Anywhere else in the empire, the leaders of such a mutiny would have been executed but they just received a slap on the wrist and were cashiered.
Patronage was a factor, but usually that had limits.
What do others make of it?
N.B. the mutiny was planned for and launched on the 20th anniversary of the colony's foundation by an ambitious and clever ex corpsman, who probably gambled on Bligh's past, colouring any future enquiry.
That officer doesn’t act as a british officer would, he was too passive
Brandon literally addressed why this is in the video..
Muskets? Damn, I do Napoleonic era Royal British artillery, and all I get is a dumb little sword, and occasionally a spontoon
Now imagine the bigger ones (6, 9 and 12-pounders) or the naval ones (16, 24 and 32 pounder, not to mention the carronade ones).
I forgot how small a 3pdr cannon was.
That would make a great potato gun! Do you guys ever practice with targets and live ammo? I shoot my 1851 Navy Cap and ball revolver when I get to an outdoor range. They are fun to shoot and accurate with practice. It smacks steel gongs pretty hard! I would never want to get shot with it! There are guys on UA-cam that are pretty good with muskets. Did they use cannon balls or a few pounds of buck shot? How accurate can a good gun crew shoot that cannon?
Was it common in the Revolutionary war that the artillery carried cavalry rifles(?) into combat?
Yes, they are carbines. I will be talking about them in the next video about artillery in this period, when it actually comes out!
1:49 kid in the right bottom background
You mean the Revolutionary War?
These Continentals and provincials were well fed.
Hello there
Yeah, but does it have bluetooth?
It was a joke, please don't kill me! I surrender!
I wonder why the sponger placed the ram side of his stick on the cannon?
I believe to indicate that he is prepared to move on to the next step. I have no idea if this is proper to the period or a modern safety practice, but either way a wise move.
Can you use urine to swab the gun if you run out of water and Molly is nowhere to be seen?
Its a lot more complicated in europe than in America
I love God and Jesus.
Did that house they were shooting at forget to pay their taxes?
Hello Brandon I was wondering is that are you American,I to told that you live somewhere in Manhattan however you continually calls things that Americans wouldn't call, such as rather then saying the Revolutionary war you use the title the American war for Independence.
General Amsel the latter I'd more specific as the former is ambiguous, especially to those outside the US.
I don't think I would put my hand near a cannon.
Why do you have a slightly British accent?
:)
your outro makes me cringe man