Artillery Men!

[Kerflumoxed]

Jim wrote:

We actually use the number of men to set the total ammo loadout per gun. Adding men would raise the rounds per gun to un-historical levels. It would be a good refinement for the future to disentangle the functions.

-Jim

Not to beat the proverbial horse to death...I think you folks did a fine job with the ammunition tables used in TC2M!

I mentioned briefly in an earlier post the number of the gun crew as 9. If we add in the drivers of the limber and the caisson, we arrive at the number 15, 3 drivers for each limber (1 limber required for the gun and 1 limber required for the caisson equals 6 drivers) and the 9 member gun crew (unless we are firing with "Deminished Numbers").

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

[Amish John]

A couple things I'd like to see (comparing to TC2M) that I believe have been mentioned before:

An appropriate time between the firing of the gun and the explosion of the shell. I think right now the shell explodes at the same instant it is fired regardless of the range.

I like to see the guns recoil about 6 to 8 feet and then be rolled back into position. Like Jack said, the guns crews seem to keep busy (too busy?) moving the guns laterally but there is no recoil annimation. The animation is there for repositioning the gun, but not in response to a recoil.

In TC2M during the unlimbering of the gun, the gun can go right thru the limber as it gets into position. Sort of ruins the suspension of disbelief, like those runaway limbers.

Ground explosions that throw dirt/debris when a percussion shell strikes the ground or an object.

Who knows, some of these things may have made it into the new game. We don't expect Norb & team to give away all the goodies before the appropriate time.

[Kerflumoxed]

Amish John wrote:

Who knows, some of these things may have made it into the new game. We don't expect Norb & team to give away all the goodies before the appropriate time.

I suspect you are right on target, John! Plus, if we know too much, we won't have anything to discuss on our "wish list" as most, if not all, will have been fulfilled, just as Jim said about the downloads and having a toolbar to simplify the downloading process. I believe Jim said he was playing Hunt and in charge of the artillery, so I anticipate great things in that aspect of the game.

Which brings to mind...any possibility of the Secesh having a pair of their Whitworth guns firing during Picket's Charge? I just read this morning about their high-pitched wail when fired. That would be a rather unique inclusion. :cheer: Hurrah, boys Hurrah!

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

[Armchair General]

Kerflumoxed wrote:

Amish John wrote:

Who knows, some of these things may have made it into the new game. We don't expect Norb & team to give away all the goodies before the appropriate time.

Which brings to mind...any possibility of the Secesh having a pair of their Whitworth guns firing during Picket's Charge? I just read this morning about their high-pitched wail when fired. That would be a rather unique inclusion. :cheer: Hurrah, boys Hurrah!

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

I read in the Gettysburg Companion that the Whitworth wasn't a reliable weapon, so that for all its potential it was kind of a let-down. Especially during the bombardment before the charge, E.P. Alexander talked about how one of the two Whitworths was put out of action when the breech-mechanism broke.

[Kerflumoxed]

Yes, General, apparently there were a couple of problems associated with the breech loading mechanism on the Whitworth, in general (no pun intended). Copper seals were provided to prevent gas leakage in the breech during firing. These seals were short-lived and therefore allowed powder residue to build up causing the mechanism to jam. Frequently, for whichever reason, breech-loading was suspended and the rifle was loaded from the muzzle. Perhaps it is this residue induced jamming that you are referring to although this is purely speculation. I would suspect numbers 3 and 4, who serviced the breech during firing, were the recipients of some unwanted residue as well!

The accuracy of the Whitworth was unparalleled during the war. "During a test trial in Southport Sands, England, in 1863, a 12-pounder breech-loading Whitworth rifle hit a target from 4.7 miles away." http://aotw.org/weapons.php?weapon_id=19

According to the below referenced National Park Service marker at Gettysburg the Whitworth did see active service during the battle. http://www.virtualgettysburg.com/exhibi ... ct149.html Here is a reference to part of that action of the Whitworths at Gettysburg: http://books.google.com/books?id=wcP3h8 ... t&resnum=2

At least one Whitworth served with Hunts Battery and one more with Sumter (GA) Artillery, Battery E "Irwin Artillery, Lane's Battery" during the Sharpsburg campaign although I do not know if these are the same two guns re-ordered during a reorganization of the ANV artillery. Both of these units were part of Jackson's Corps at that time.

There are several photos of the Whitworth available on the net including: http://www.flickr.com/photos/duddyd2003/3564428382/ The original English drawings show a distinctive carriage that not only included an elevating screw but a traversing mechanism as well that allowed the gunner to move the barrel horizontally. Apparently this carriage was not utilized by American forces; rather an American style carriage was adapted. According to one CW artillery historian, the trail was lenthened to accomodate the length of the gun tube and location of the elevating screw.

Hope this is of general interest and provides some additional "food for thought."

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

[Armchair General]

I think it's all interesting because people seem to forget how many of the innovations still in use were started up during the Civil War (breechloading artillery, aircraft carriers, extensive trench warfare, limited grenade and machine gun use, to just list a few).

[Kerflumoxed]

Armchair General wrote:

I think it's all interesting because people seem to forget how many of the innovations still in use were started up during the Civil War (breechloading artillery, aircraft carriers, extensive trench warfare, limited grenade and machine gun use, to just list a few).

I usually use some of these illustrations you mention during my history classes. However, was unaware of the "aircraft carrier." Please help me out on this one! (Only thing I can think was moving the balloon by waterway! :huh: )

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

[Armchair General]

Kerflumoxed wrote:

Armchair General wrote:

I think it's all interesting because people seem to forget how many of the innovations still in use were started up during the Civil War (breechloading artillery, aircraft carriers, extensive trench warfare, limited grenade and machine gun use, to just list a few).

I usually use some of these illustrations you mention during my history classes. However, was unaware of the "aircraft carrier." Please help me out on this one! (Only thing I can think was moving the balloon by waterway! :huh: )

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

Exactly, the U.S.S. Fanny transported a balloon (I don't remember the exact timing.) I know it's a stretch, but it just sounds cool "Did you know there was an aircraft carrier in the Civil War?"

[Kerflumoxed]

Armchair General wrote:

Kerflumoxed wrote:

Armchair General wrote:

I think it's all interesting because people seem to forget how many of the innovations still in use were started up during the Civil War (breechloading artillery, aircraft carriers, extensive trench warfare, limited grenade and machine gun use, to just list a few).

I usually use some of these illustrations you mention during my history classes. However, was unaware of the "aircraft carrier." Please help me out on this one! (Only thing I can think was moving the balloon by waterway! :huh: )

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

Exactly, the U.S.S. Fanny transported a balloon (I don't remember the exact timing.) I know it's a stretch, but it just sounds cool "Did you know there was an aircraft carrier in the Civil War?"

Now that would have been something if they had launched from the Fanny's "deck!" Oh, my :woohoo:

Jack Hanger
Fremont, NE

[Little Powell]

While were on the subject of artillery, I was reading a Private's account of the battle of Antietam. I found this passage to be very interesting:

We stayed a short time, and on our return came down the road towards the Seventeenth. We were passing a group of soldiers lying behind a fence watching the flash of the enemy's artillery, which was on a high hill about a mile off. All at once a large twelve pounder shell from one of these very guns struck the ground in the front, and then, as if cast by a child's hands, rolled gently around the group, and there it rested, with the fuse spluttering and blazing. The effect was ludicrous. We did not stop on the order of going, but went at once. Every man jumped, hopped, ran, or rolled from that harmless looking little black ball, and did not stop until they were at a respectable distance, when lying flat down, they awaited the explosion. It soon came, and shattered a whole panel of fence by the force of its discharge. How thankful we were that the fuse was so long. Going back, we picked as best we could the fallen fruit which we forgot to carry when that shell came along. We lost our grapes, though.

Can't you just imagine something like this happening? A live artillery shell rolling around in front of you while you run for cover..