Artillery casulaties of 6pdr

[[N]Von Thielmann]

The German Historian Muller, who served in the King's German Legion, assessed the rate of casualties that might be inflicted by 6pdrs during such attacks as follows.

Cavalry- 1600-800 yards 4killed 2 wounded(round shot)
800-400 yards 6 killed 4 wounded (round shot)
400- yards 9 killed 23 wounded (canister)

Infantry 1600-1200 yards 4 killed 4wounded
1200-800 yards 8killed 2 wounded
800-400 yards 16 killed 10 wounded
400- yards 30 killed 90 wounded (canister)

[[N]Sloop]

assessed the rate of casualties that might be inflicted by 6pdrs during such attacks

Was there any further information defining "such attacks?" For example the time frame of the attack, rate of fire, or total rounds used etc.?

[[N]Fullin]

is this per shot?

[[N]Von Thielmann]

The attack was based on 8 rounds. This is under perfect conditions.

In action it took much longer to run up a gun after recoil and re-lay it on target;and the supply of ammunition, exhaustion of the crew, casualties , and obscuring of targets by friendly forces and smoke, would combine to reduce the possible rate of fire.

The Maximum rate, Laid down in the manuals as well as authenticated by records, seems to have been two roundshot or 3 canister per minute. The heavier pieces, like the 12pdrs, were naturally slower, at one shot per minute.

Thus the casualties which Muller talked about was with 8 rounds of fire in combat probably taking around 4 minutes.

[[N]Von Thielmann]

Napoleonic artillery only had an error in the horizontal plane of 15 feet to left or right of the target.

Percentage of hits with round shot

6pdr 520feet 82% Hit
950 feet 40% Hit
1200 Feet 17% Hit

12pdr 600 Feet 87% Hit
950 Feet 40% Hit
1300 Feet 17% Hit

The hits listed were recorded against a Line.

[[N]Von Thielmann]

# of shot by nation for canister

Austria
6pdr 60
12pdr 120

Britain
6pdr 85
9pdr 180

France
4pdr 63
8pdr 112
12pdr 112

[[N]Sloop]

Averaging the 6lb roundshot at all ranges equal 1.83 casualties per round. Under perfect conditions this could be 55 casualties per half an hour and 60 rounds.

[[N]Chromey]

<- Soldier Muller whiping the guts of his comrades off his face while taking down the statistics