THE ENGLISH 6-PDR

REGARDING ITS USEFULNESS IN THE FIELD

AS A GUN FOR THE HORSE ARTILLERY

Part 5

Translated and edited by Geert van Uythoven

Source:

- Decker, C. von: "Der Englische Sechspfünder, in Bezug auf seine Brauchbarkeit im Felde, als Geschütz fur reitende Artillerie", in ’Militair-Wochenblatt’ 8. Jahrgang (Berlin 1823) pp.2608, 2711-2712, 2723-2726, 2729-2730.

CANISTER (‘KARTÄTSCHSCHÜSSE’)

The ground on which these shots were fired was perfectly level. The shots were fired against three walls of wooden planks with a strength of one Zoll. They were nine feet high and two hundred feet long, and were placed with an interspace of 2 1/2 feet, so that the third wall was five feet behind the first one. At distances of 300 and 600 paces in front of the first wall, horizontal wooden gun beds had been constructed. The ground was very hard, here and there covered with patches of heather.

The gunpowder was of the defined quality; the ammunition had been produced with the utmost accuracy. With the same accuracy the balls that hit were marked, and well every time after five shots had been fired.

The powder charges consisted of 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 pounds of gunpowder. The tin case had an iron base which was fixed to the powder charge. The balls had been packed irregularly, in the following varieties:

- with 80 balls of 2 löth each (one roundshot weight);

- with 100 balls of 2 löth each (1 1/4 roundshot weight);

- with 126 balls of 2 löth each (1 1/2 roundshot weight);

- with 30 balls of 6 löth each (one roundshot weight);

- with 36 balls of 6 löth each (1 1/4 roundshot weight);

- with 41 balls of 6 löth each (1 1/2 roundshot weight).

With every variety of canister and every powder charge twenty shots were fired, making a total of 240 shots.

To judge the effect of canister the following has to be taken in account:

1. If the balls fly far enough, and on the mark;

2. how far the dispersion to both sides is (sideward deviation);

3. how far the dispersion in height is (deviation in height).

Ad. 1: This will be measured by counting the amount of balls having the power to strike through one or more of the walls fired at, the balls which will stick into the wall, and those hitting the wall but bouncing off.

Ad. 2: This will be defined by the amount with which the balls will remain on the mark. Single balls that deviate from the mark in an erratic way are discounted.

Ad. 3: This will be defined the same way as the previous one. We will however not mark hits the way as it is usually done, counting all balls as a hit up to six feet high; just as has been done with the other kinds of fire, we take infantry as five feet high, and cavalry as eight feet high. All balls going higher are counted as misses.

STRIKING POWER (‘PERKUSSIONSKRAFT’)

Balls which stick into the wall, can regarding their striking power against troops be counted as comparable with those striking through. On the contrary, balls hitting the wall but bouncing off are discounted, although usually (‘Leitfaden’ p.297) three of such balls are counted as a hit. To give an impression of the kinetic energy of the balls, the following table has been constructed from the tests:

Amount of shots fired	Distance (paces)	Canister variety	Striking through all 3 walls or stuck		In fractions
			1 1/4 pd. powder charge	1 1/2 pd. powder charge	1 1/4 pd. powder charge	1 1/2 pd. powder charge
20	300	80x 2 löth	1,862	2,074	9/8	5/4
20	300	100x 2 löth	1,895	2,132	19/20	21/20
20	300	126x 2 löth	1,793	2,062	3/4	4/5
20	600	30x 6 löth	519	697	13/15	7/6
20	600	36x 6 löth	514	705	13/18	35/36
20	600	41x 6 löth	589	789	2/3	39/41

From this table can be derived that canister:

- with 80 balls of two löth each and with 30 balls of six löth each, and a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound showed the best striking power;

- with 126 balls of two löth each and with 41 balls of six löth each, and a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound showed the worst striking power.

From the above however, it is not allowed to conclude straight away that these varieties of canister would have to be preferred. First we should ascertain if canister with a bigger powder charge and more balls will have a greater or smaller spread of the balls then the varieties with a smaller powder charge and a lesser amount of balls. This leads us to the sideward deviation of which has been spoken before. First however, the following remark has to be made: according to the Handbook of Major Plümicke (II. Band, p.124), of the two löth balls at a distance of 300 paces, out of twenty shots fired, 652 balls should have struck through the first wall; of the six löth balls at the same distance and the same amount of shots fired, 190 balls should have struck to the first wall. During our test, in the former case 890 balls struck through the first wall, in the latter case 259 balls. As a result we can conclude that the English 6-pdr is not inferior to the Prussian one regarding canister shots and its striking power.

SIDEWARD DEVIATION

When looking at the balls with the greatest sideward deviation but still hitting the wall, it is clear that sideward deviation of all canister varieties is considerable. If one however ignores the single balls that deviate from the mark in a very erratic way, one finds that the canister of the English 6-pdr as a whole keeps well together, and of these the two löth balls much better then the six löth ones. The following table illustrates this:

Distance (paces)	Canister variety	Powder charge (pd.)	Sideward deviation		Spread of the mass of balls
			Farthest (ft)	Middle (ft.)
300	80x 2 löth	1 1/4	99	55	50
		1 1/2	92	49	45
	100x 2 löth	1 1/4	104	66	60
		1 1/2	95	60	60
	126x 2 löth	1 1/4	160	75	70
		1 1/2	143	75	70
600	30x 6 löth	1 1/4	175	109	70
		1 1/2	187	95	65
	36x 6 löth	1 1/4	197	114	75
		1 1/2	196	115	75
	41x 6 löth	1 1/4	200	107	75
		1 1/2	192	107	75

Although it is true that bigger powder charges will give a greater spread of the balls, this has a limit as the weight of the canister may not be to much differing from the weight of the powder charge. The above table shows that a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound is a favourable proportion for canister with 100 balls of two löth; the same as a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound for 30 six löth balls.

Major Plümicke gives for two löth canister at 300 paces a spread of 98 feet, and for the six löth canister at 600 paces a spread of 178 feet. And we have no reason to doubt his returns. From this derives that the results of the English 6-pdr, when firing with two löth canister, relates to the Prussian gun in regard to the spread as 60 to 98, and with six löth balls as 95 to 178. That means that the two löth balls relate as 2/5, and the six löth keep half as better together.

Further we learn from this table that of the head of a battalion in column, the first two ranks with twenty-five files each will be exposed to the full effect of the canister, with two löth as well as six löth balls. The same is the case with the foremost squadron of a cavalry regiment formed in column. In addition a result as one would desire.

DEVIATION IN HEIGHT

The author is a strictly against illusions build by theoretical tables; one believes that a cannonade has a devastating effect on the enemy, only to find out the contrary in the end. Therefore, I count all balls as misses when deviating more then fifty feet to the left or right, or higher then five feet (for infantry) or eight feet (for cavalry).

The painstaking carefulness with which I compiled the results in this treatise, enables me to present a table which is not even included in the most famous and table-filled textbooks for artillerymen, and with which I hope to do great service to benefit all able to use it to their advantage. For this purpose, a hundred feet long and eight feet high wall was divided into eight parallel strips of one feet, and in every strip (starting below) the amount of balls that hit were counted. The results are laid down in the following table:

Strips of 1 foot high, counting from below	Of 20 shots at 300 paces, the following amount of hits
	80x 2 löth		100x 2 löth		126x 2 löth
	Powder charge		Powder charge		Powder charge
	1 1/4 pd.	1 1/2 pd.	1 1/4 pd.	1 1/2 pd.	1 1/4 pd.	1 1/2 pd.
1st strip	193	172	185	181	189	190
2nd strip	118	139	173	187	193	156
3rd strip	146	138	132	137	159	159
4th strip	106	133	156	133	145	139
5th strip	118	100	112	112	133	125
Infantry	681	682	758	749	819	769
6th strip	94	89	109	108	122	121
7th strip	84	96	94	97	105	120
8th strip	75	68	83	88	88	102
Cavalry	932	935	1044	1042	1134	1111

At first glance one should conclude to prefer canister with 126 balls of two löth each and a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound, at a distance of 300 paces. Having a further look however, one should also take into account the results we saw when looking at the striking power and sideward deviation. Here we found that canister with 80 and 100 balls of two löth gave the most favourable results, so that we can conclude: that canister with 100 balls of two löth and a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound give the most favourable effect, while the results are the most regular.

In general, the alert researcher will note the great regularity which canister gave during all these tests; it will surprise, but also be the cause of admiration. Shall we repeat it once again: reason for this is very simple, and is only the weak powder charge. Or should we prefer to cover up our findings with the veil of the ordinary?

Here follows a similar table for the results of canister with six löth balls at 600 paces:

Strips of 1 foot high, counting from below	Of 20 shots at 600 paces, the following amount of hits
	30x 6 löth		36x 6 löth		41x 6 löth
	Powder charge		Powder charge		Powder charge
	1 1/4 pd.	1 1/2 pd.	1 1/4 pd.	1 1/2 pd.	1 1/4 pd.	1 1/2 pd.
1st strip	49	52	39	62	45	69
2nd strip	60	39	61	47	45	44
3rd strip	27	54	37	21	37	47
4th strip	28	40	34	21	28	36
5th strip	36	29	26	34	42	33
Infantry	200	214	197	185	197	229
6th strip	28	23	20	24	41	30
7th strip	20	20	26	40	19	32
8th strip	22	22	27	20	19	24
Cavalry	270	279	270	269	276	315

Again, one should note the same regularity which also shows by the canister with six löth balls. But one would do wrong to prefer canister with 41 balls of six löth each and a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound, just for the reason that this variety shows the highest total of balls that hit. Again in this case also, regarding the previous results of striking power and sideward deviation, we can conclude that: at 600 paces canister with 30 balls of six löth and a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound give the most favourable effect.

THE AMOUNT OF BALLS THAT HIT

Somewhat reluctant, the author lays down the results regarding this, as they surpass everything the author and maybe also the readers knew of the effect of canister. At previous occasions, the author openly has declared himself against the use of canister, and after everything I learned from the field or derived from test results, my judgment could hardly be otherwise. These test however have learned me otherwise, and it would be a great mistake from me to maintain with my previous opinion. So I gladly declare that, for this effect of canister, I will strike my sails.

One should study the next table, composed with the utmost precision. The results are again based on a hundred feet wide, and respectively five or eight feet high wall:

distance (paces)	variety	powder charge (pound)	of 20 shots the following hits						in a width of 40 feet in the centre, the following hits
			infantry	cavalry	per shot		in fractions
					infantry	cavalry	infantry	cavalry
300	80x 2 löth	1 1/4	681	932	34	46	3/8	5/8	840 or 1/2
		1 1/2	682	935	34	46	3/8	5/8	845 or 1/2
	100x 2 löth	1 1/4	758	1,044	38	52	3/8	1/2	885 or 4/9
		1 1/2	749	1,042	37	52	3/8	1/2	889 or 4/9
	126x 2 löth	1 1/4	819	1,134	41	56	1/3	4/9	851 or 1/3
		1 1/2	769	1,111	38	55	1/3	4/9	815 or 1/3
600	30x 6 löth	1 1/4	200	270	10	13	1/3	4/9	150 or 1/4
		1 1/2	214	279	10	14	1/3	4/9	146 or 1/4
	36x 6 löth	1 1/4	197	270	10	14	2/7	3/8	137 or 1/5
		1 1/2	185	269	9	14	1/4	3/8	142 or 1/5
	41x 6 löth	1 1/4	197	276	10	14	1/4	1/3	131 or 1/6
		1 1/2	229	315	11	15	1/4	1/3	157 or 1/5

The above table would speak in favour of canister with 80 balls of two löth and a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound, as with this variety relatively half of the balls were a hit in the central part of the wall. However, the variety of 100 balls of two löth gave more or less the same relative results (4/9). In absolute terms however, there were 44 more balls that hit in the central part of the wall. Therefore we can conclude that: canister with 100 balls of two löth and a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound gives the most favourable effect, in regard to the amount of balls that hit.

With canister with balls of six löth, relatively its worth starts only there were with the two löth balls the results were the least favourable; i.e. the best result of the six löth balls was 1/4 balls hitting the central part of the wall, with two löth balls only 1/3 hitting. And while the relative worth is diminishing with more balls in the canister, while the absolute amount of hits is not increasing, from this follows clearly that again: canister with 30 balls of six löth and a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound give the most favourable effect.

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Next, we have to compare the canister of the English 6-pdr with that of the Prussian one. Major Plümicke states in his Handbook (II. Band, p.124) that: at a distance of 300 feet, out of ten shots with 126 balls of two löth each, 326 hits have been scored on a six feet high wall. In contrast to this, we have under the same circumstances, with ten shots done with the English 6-pdr, scored 445 hits on a six feet high wall. And when the canister contained a hundred balls only, 429 balls did hit. From this follows that the English 6-pdr scored in the former case 119, in the latter case 103 hits more, or in other words: its effect is about a third superior to the Prussian gun.

About canister with six löth balls (41 balls in a canister), Major Plümicke states on the same page of his invaluable Handbook: that at a distance of 600 feet, out of ten shots, 95 hits have been scored on a six feet high wall. In contrast to this, we have under the same circumstances, with ten shots done with the English 6-pdr, scored…130 hits on a six feet high wall. And when the canister contained thirty balls only, …119 balls did hit. From this follows that the English 6-pdr scored in the former case 35, in the latter case 24 hits more, or in words: its effect is over a quarter superior to the Prussian gun.

The author repeats again that he has composed these results with a certain reluctance, because of the favourable results they could be doubted. He assures once again that he has compiled the results with painstaking loyalty and not without sparing no pains while processing the test results. However to aid the researcher even more in making his own judgment, and to prevent every appearance of subjectivity, added here is a drawing of the wall that formed the target itself.

The whole length of this wall is a hundred feet. Height is eight feet. It is divided into separate compartments from the centre by vertical lines at distances of ten feet. The lower compartments are five feet high (infantry); the upper compartments are therefore three feet high. The numbers depict the amount of balls that hit a specific compartment after having done twenty shots:

- with 80 balls of 2 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound; distance 300 paces:

-	3	8	33	67	79	40	15	2	5
1	2	20	82	189	230	120	27	7	7

- with 80 balls of 2 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound; distance 300 paces:

-	1	5	16	75	90	48	15	2	1
1	2	17	67	175	234	140	38	7	1

- with 100 balls of 2 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound; distance 300 paces:

1	6	10	32	75	80	59	17	3	3
1	11	26	82	212	201	144	67	10	4

- with 100 balls of 2 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound; distance 300 paces:

-	5	18	49	91	83	38	9	3	-
4	10	45	131	184	203	110	41	16	2

- with 126 balls of 2 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound; distance 300 paces:

2	9	10	39	66	78	60	27	20	4
7	18	49	100	171	187	150	78	39	20

- with 126 balls of 2 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound; distance 300 paces:

2	16	35	59	76	62	48	29	9	6
7	27	45	120	169	161	120	80	31	9

- with 30 balls of 6 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound; distance 600 paces:

1	7	5	8	12	12	10	6	7	2
9	6	21	31	14	28	35	28	17	11

- with 30 balls of 6 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound; distance 600 paces:

1	5	6	10	6	8	7	11	7	4
8	12	17	20	28	35	32	24	24	14

- with 36 balls of 6 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound; distance 600 paces:

2	4	7	12	7	10	14	6	4	7
9	21	14	25	15	17	37	26	21	12

- with 36 balls of 6 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound; distance 600 paces:

9	7	8	5	14	9	8	7	11	6
4	14	20	25	18	32	31	23	12	6

- with 41 balls of 6 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound; distance 600 paces:

2	10	5	4	11	14	9	11	9	4
10	10	22	25	14	32	22	27	18	17

- with 41 balls of 6 löth each; a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound; distance 600 paces:

4	9	12	11	13	12	5	9	7	4
11	19	13	26	23	41	26	32	24	14

One giving himself the trouble to have a closer look at these figures will not be able to deny the great regularity of canister shots. He will further be able to give his judgment about the keeping together and spread of the balls with an increased weight of the canister and the powder charge. In general, one is able to make many additional observations, with these results clearly in front of him. If the results of canister fire had always been tested this way question is if the textbooks would not have teached us different results from what they teach us now.

Finally we learn from these figures that during these tests the elevation of the guns had been chosen very well. In no case the amount of balls that hit the upper compartments exceeded the amount of hits in the lower compartments; on the contrary, the amount of hits in the lower compartments is often four times those of the upper compartments (ignoring of course the balls that hit the farthest compartments). A better elevation could not have been chosen, and as there was no probing shot done, this illustrates how well the testing crew knew to judge the piece. The elevation was, with a powder charge of 1 1/4 as well as 1 1/2 pound, as follows:

- At 300 paces with 80 balls of 2 löth each: 0 Zoll;

- At 300 paces with 100 balls of 2 löth each: visor and the highest head (‘Kopfhöhe’) 120 paces before the target;

- At 300 paces with 126 balls of 2 löth each: visor and the highest head (‘Kopfhöhe’) at the bottom of the target;

- At 600 paces with 30 balls of 6 löth each: 1 Zoll (one degree);

- At 600 paces with 36 balls of 6 löth each: 1 1/4 Zoll (1 1/4 degree), and with a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound: 1 1/2 Zoll;

- At 600 paces with 41 balls of 6 löth each: 1 1/2 Zoll (1 1/2 degree), and with a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound: 1 3/4 Zoll;

Before we will leave these numbers, remains to have a look at the following firing results:

The canister varieties with the worst results were:

- with 126 balls of 2 löth each, with a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound;

- with 41 balls of 6 löth each, with a powder charge of 1 1/4 pound.

The canister varieties with the best results were:

- with 80 balls of 2 löth each, with a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound;

- with 30 balls of 6 löth each, with a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound.

The canister varieties with the most central hits were:

- with 100 balls of 2 löth each, with a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound;

- with 41 balls of 6 löth each, with a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound.

The canister varieties with the most favourable effect, with regard to all circumstances:

- with 100 balls of 2 löth each, with a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound;

- with 30 balls of 6 löth each, with a powder charge of 1 1/2 pound.

To be continued…

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To be continued in Part 6 of this series, which will follow soon!

© Geert van Uythoven