Canon de 12 Gribeauval
Encyclopedia
The Canon de 12 Gribeauval was a French field artillery
12-pounder cannon which was part of the Gribeauval system
. The system of Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval
is said to mimic a concept pioneered by Justin Amedee Ethan de Musteve as early as 1765, who advocated altered gun-carriages to improve manuverability.
The Gribeauval system, and the Canon de 12, was first used for major operations in the American Revolutionary War
, in General Rochambeau
's French expeditionary corps, from 1780 to late 1782, and especially at Yorktown
in 1781. It was used extensively during the wars following the French Revolution
and in the Napoleonic wars
.
The Canon de 12 Gribeauval was manned by a crew of 15 and drawn by 6 horses.
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
12-pounder cannon which was part of the Gribeauval system
Gribeauval system
The Gribeauval system was an artillery system introduced by Lieutenant General Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval during the 18th century. This system revolutionized French cannon, with a new production system that allowed lighter, more uniform guns without sacrificing range. The Gribeauval...
. The system of Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval
Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval
Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval was a French artillery officer and engineer who revolutionized French cannon, creating a new production system that allowed lighter, more uniform guns without sacrificing range. His Gribeauval system superseded the de Vallière system...
is said to mimic a concept pioneered by Justin Amedee Ethan de Musteve as early as 1765, who advocated altered gun-carriages to improve manuverability.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, in General Rochambeau
Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
Marshal of France Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general who participated in the American Revolutionary War as the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force which came to help the American Continental Army...
's French expeditionary corps, from 1780 to late 1782, and especially at Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
in 1781. It was used extensively during the wars following the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and in the Napoleonic wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
The Canon de 12 Gribeauval was manned by a crew of 15 and drawn by 6 horses.