Looking for Table of Fire for 12 pound Field Howitzer

[BorderRuffian]

All,

I have ran search feature for this and am coming up empty.This item is the only obstacle left to clear before taking the field.Would appreciate any help I can get.


Thanks Much,

[RJSamp]

Re: Looking for Table of Fire for 12 pound Field Howitzer

http://www.cwartillery.com/FA/FA.html (20 pounder Parrot table....)

http://www.military-info.com/aphoto/...list/A008e.htm (More tables than you could fax in an hour)

I could have sworn that there's one in Gibbon's Artillery Manual.....

[Forquer]

Re: Looking for Table of Fire for 12 pound Field Howitzer

You may also try the following:

ANTIQUE ORDNANCE PUBLISHERS

BOX 434, 3611 OLD FARM LANE

FORT GRATIOT, MI 48059 Phone 1-810-987-7749

aop434@webtv.net Fax 1-810-982-1052

[BorderRuffian]

Re: Looking for Table of Fire for 12 pound Field Howitzer

Fellows,


Thanks for the help!

[Mbond057]

Re: Looking for Table of Fire for 12 pound Field Howitzer

Here is a 12 Pdr 1857 Table of Fire.

I'll check my other computer as well because I had all the Howitzer Tables of Fire at one time. I just need to find it so I can share.

[hta1970]

Re: Looking for Table of Fire for 12 pound Field Howitzer

Ok, please correct me if I am reading the original question wrong but you are asking for the table of fire for the 12lb field howitzer. As this is a request for something needed prior to taking to the field, I take it you need one for the inside of the ammunition box on the limber. In that case check Steen Cannons. They may be able to help. If you just need the information found in the table check out a copy of the Ordnance Manuals of the period.

As for other "artillerists" posting firing tables for the Napoleon, those ranges do not apply to the field howitzer and powder chrages are twice that of the field howitzer. Not even close to applicable and outright dangerous to post especially coming from someone supposedly familiar with artillery.

For those "non-artillerists" posting tables for rifled guns, while perhaps an attempt at being helpful, it is important to match the right table with the right gun to avoid safety issues. Those tables provide important information for a gun crew and should accurately reflect the information to the gun to which they are matched. This should be true regardless of blanks or live rounds.

[artillerybuff]

Re: Looking for Table of Fire for 12 pound Field Howitzer

Yes, the 1857 model 12-Pounder Napoleon calls for a service charge of 2.5 lbs. of powder. The model 1841 12 Pdr. Field Howitzer is a chambered piece that calls for a 1 lb. service charge.

If you attempt to use a huge Napoleon charge in your Field Howitzer your charge will be far outside of the chamber thus creating a terrible safety problem from excessive pressures created by the charge being in an open section of the barrel (i.e. big air gap) which is a big NO-NO with black powder... this is double compounded if you are live firing 12 lb. shot puts.

We had our 12 Pdr. Field Howitzer filmed by the History Channel a few years ago for the making of the Mexican American War program. We fired numerous full service loads with 12 lb. shot. Due to the very soft/sandy type surface we were firing on, the carriage wheels and trail began to dig a rut that hampered the recoil. The gun was literally jumping off of the ground! Good thing we had a very well made carriage by the Miller Wagon & Carriage Company...

Now if your piece is made to exact specs with a period correct vent, you will notice that it enters the chamber approx. 3.5" from the back of the breech (angled towards the back of the piece; obviously from a design pre-dating friction primers). This makes this piece a rather powder hungry beast indeed. Most reproduction pre-war era pieces today are made with a vent that is drilled straight entering the chamber approx. 1" from the back of the breech making it more reenactor friendly.

BTW, if you still need a TOF, I have an 11" X 17" TOF for the Field Howitzer I can email you. I print them out on heavy stock paper with a laser printer.

Be well and please be safe~

2nd Lt. Anthony A. Variz
Battery D 5th US

[Mbond057]

Re: Looking for Table of Fire for 12 pound Field Howitzer

No one said that the Napoleon table of fire was the same for a Field or Mountain Howitzer table of fire. I was going to share all my howitzer tables of fire to anyone needing them on the forum.

I’ll just send PMs to those requesting information instead of publicly posting and avoiding the forum bullies and “no-it-alls” who are just looking to show off instead of being helpful.

[artillerybuff]

No one said that the Napoleon table of fire was the same for a Field or Mountain Howitzer table of fire. I was going to share all my howitzer tables of fire to anyone needing them on the forum.

I’ll just send PMs to those requesting information instead of publicly posting and avoiding the forum bullies and “no-it-alls” who are just looking to show off instead of being helpful.

Mark, I am sure most if not all readers would know not to use your Napoleon Table on other 12 Pdr's, and it was clear (to me at least) that you were not suggesting it either.

However, when it comes to Cannon safety I like to remove ALL doubt. Any accidents anywhere involving an artillery piece can hurt all of us in our artillery hobby. It doesn't matter if it is out in some guys field, at a football game, at the beach, or at a reenactment, all cannon related accidents cause us all bad press and possible unnecessary regulation. I have seen and heard about things that make my skin crawl. People trying to get the biggest possible bang/boom using incorrect powder (i.e. too much, mixed/accelerated blends, inappropriate grades, using wadding etc.) all with the feeble excuse that "it's okay, blanks have no real pressure". Couple that with a questionable barrel and/or drill and you have a recipe for failure at the least, and death at the most.

So please forgive me if I appear to overreact when it comes to cannon safety. In the interest of self preservation I will always be out spoken on the subject.

Respectfully,

Anthony A. Variz