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I was looking through the manual for mountain artillery this morning and noticed something I'd not paid attention to before, the knee guard or knee piece. Anyone familiar with this item? Anyone seen an extant original?
Also, while I'm thinking about it, anyone know of any extant Bricoles out there?
I was able to do some actual rapid fire drill by the manual with Fort Tejon's Pack Howitzer a couple weekends ago . They have been making steady progress at assembling the full pack howitzer equipments and tack. The Rangers and volunteers there drill quite regularly with the piece (that practice by the book really shows when they go into action). Anyways, it got me thinking about some of the equipments listed in the manual that I haven't seen. I've done field artillery and prairie carriage mountain howitzers but this was the first time doing the unique drill for the pack carriage . I just happened to be lucky to serve with a group of fellows who pay attention to the art in artillery drill. Looking forward to the next time. :-)
227. At the command Take Equipments, the gunner distributes the equipments. No. 1, with the assistance of No. 3, takes out the sponge. The gunner equips himself with the belt containing the hausse and priming wire, and with the knee-guard and the finger-stall, wearing the last on the second finger of the left hand.
305. Implements and equipments required for each carriage.
On the Carriage
1 Vent cover, on the piece.
On the Pack with the Ammunition Chests
In the fuze pouch.
On the Carriage
1 Handspike,
1 Sponge and rammer
1 Sponge cover, on the sponge.1 Sponge and rammer
1 Vent cover, on the piece.
On the Pack with the Ammunition Chests
2 Haversacks,
1 Tube pouch,
1 Fuze pouch,
1 Small tarpaulin,
1 Priming wire, in the tube pouch.1 Tube pouch,
1 Fuze pouch,
1 Small tarpaulin,
In the fuze pouch.
1 Knee piece,
1 Gunner's gimlet,
2 Lanyards for friction tubes,
In Tool Chest A1 Gunner's gimlet,
2 Lanyards for friction tubes,
1 Gunner's pincers,
1 Fuze plug reamer,
2 Bricoles.
1 Fuze plug reamer,
2 Bricoles.
I was able to do some actual rapid fire drill by the manual with Fort Tejon's Pack Howitzer a couple weekends ago . They have been making steady progress at assembling the full pack howitzer equipments and tack. The Rangers and volunteers there drill quite regularly with the piece (that practice by the book really shows when they go into action). Anyways, it got me thinking about some of the equipments listed in the manual that I haven't seen. I've done field artillery and prairie carriage mountain howitzers but this was the first time doing the unique drill for the pack carriage . I just happened to be lucky to serve with a group of fellows who pay attention to the art in artillery drill. Looking forward to the next time. :-)
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