French horse drawn artillery
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Woftam
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French horse drawn artillery
Lucked onto this display last week. Happened to be walking past the museum and heard the rumble of iron wheels on cobblestones. If two units make that much noise I'd hate to imagine what a full squadron (is that the right designation) would sound like.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/w ... illery.jpg[/pic]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/w ... lleryA.jpg[/pic]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/w ... lleryB.jpg[/pic]
The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it.
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Woftam
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Unfortunately other than it being original I can't say much more about it. Being one of lifes uneducated folk I don't speak french so had no idea of what the 2 hour long commentary was all about.
I obviously didn't get the warning (although by the crowds reaction I don't think there was one) about the firing of the blanks either.
If someone more knowledgeable about horse drawn guns wants to have a go at identifying them I do have a better shot of the left hand gun in this photo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/w ... lleryC.jpg[/pic]
I obviously didn't get the warning (although by the crowds reaction I don't think there was one) about the firing of the blanks either.
If someone more knowledgeable about horse drawn guns wants to have a go at identifying them I do have a better shot of the left hand gun in this photo.
The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it.
Oh yes, they're 75s 
It's nice to see an entire gun team together, although why half are in Horizon bleu and half are in what appears to be pre-war kit, I don't know.
Is that outside Les Invalides?
Do you have any idea why they were firing? - I would have suggested that it might have had something to do with the centenary of Napoleon crowning himself, but that was about two weeks earlier.
Tom
I recall one morning twenty- umph years ago, on the train to college one misty day we were caught at signals, I looked out of the window and saw two gun teams of the King's Troop rehersing/exercising - it was quite eerie seeing two teams and guns with the crews in what was, superficially, First World War kit emerge from the mist, advance at the walk then swing right and dissappear into the mist again, all in silence (couldn't hear a damned thing through those windows and at that range .(25/30 m)
It's nice to see an entire gun team together, although why half are in Horizon bleu and half are in what appears to be pre-war kit, I don't know.Is that outside Les Invalides?
Do you have any idea why they were firing? - I would have suggested that it might have had something to do with the centenary of Napoleon crowning himself, but that was about two weeks earlier.
Tom
I recall one morning twenty- umph years ago, on the train to college one misty day we were caught at signals, I looked out of the window and saw two gun teams of the King's Troop rehersing/exercising - it was quite eerie seeing two teams and guns with the crews in what was, superficially, First World War kit emerge from the mist, advance at the walk then swing right and dissappear into the mist again, all in silence (couldn't hear a damned thing through those windows and at that range .(25/30 m)
The Truth IS Out There, The lies are in your head. (T. Pratchett - 'Hogfather'))
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Woftam
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Thanks for the ID Tom.
No idea why they were firing, would have been on the 10th July if that's any help.
Yes it is the Hotel des Invalides. Fantastic display of cannons in there. Unfortunately time didn't permit going through the exhibits, but on the bright side as the wife wants to go back to Paris there appears to be a chance to rectify that.
No idea why they were firing, would have been on the 10th July if that's any help.
Yes it is the Hotel des Invalides. Fantastic display of cannons in there. Unfortunately time didn't permit going through the exhibits, but on the bright side as the wife wants to go back to Paris there appears to be a chance to rectify that.
The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it.
French 'Cannon'
One thing I can't excuse the French for occurs at Les Invalides.
Walking around the quadrangle, there are cannon against all the walls and mounted guns at the corners, except that two of the 'guns' are not cannon, they are 'the French volley/machine guns of the 1870s (two distinct patterns), both of which have been allowed to corrode/oxidise into solidity (oh to get my hands on them and a very big bath of kerosene
).
As to firing on 10th July, I can only suggest that it was something to do with either Bastille Day (14th) or perhaps the Battle of Verdun?
Tom
Walking around the quadrangle, there are cannon against all the walls and mounted guns at the corners, except that two of the 'guns' are not cannon, they are 'the French volley/machine guns of the 1870s (two distinct patterns), both of which have been allowed to corrode/oxidise into solidity (oh to get my hands on them and a very big bath of kerosene
).As to firing on 10th July, I can only suggest that it was something to do with either Bastille Day (14th) or perhaps the Battle of Verdun?
Tom
The Truth IS Out There, The lies are in your head. (T. Pratchett - 'Hogfather'))
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Woftam
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OOPS, everyone stop racking your brains over the significance of the 10th July - it was actually the 10th of December, old timers disease strikes again.
Tom is this the item you mean ? Followed by a better shot of the horse drawn artillery.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/w ... illery.jpg[/pic]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/w ... lleryD.jpg[/pic]
Took a look at the museum's website and it appears to be a celebration for the feast day of the french(?) patron saint of artillery. Previously done in 2004 with only on cannon and four horses apparently, back bigger and better by popular demand this year. Then there is something about manouvering the guns with the 6 and 4 horse teams. It only appears to mention the WW1 uniformed team not the other and the fact the model 75 was the most common french artillery piece of WW1. Well that's my best guess on what it said - here's the original if any educated people are about.
A l’occasion de la Sainte-Barbe, patronne des Artilleurs (fêtée le 4 décembre), le musée de l’Armée propose au grand public une animation historique exceptionnelle dans la cour d’honneur de l’Hôtel national des Invalides. Le succès remporté auprès du public par cette animation en décembre 2004 conduit le musée à la renouveler cette année, en lui donnant une plus grande ampleur : 2 canons et 10 chevaux (en 2004 : 1 canon et 6 chevaux).
Au programme : manœuvre de deux canons de 75 attelés, l’un tiré par six chevaux, l’autre par 4 chevaux - des postiers bretons - en présence de 7 servants en uniforme 1915, la fameuse tenue bleu horizon des poilus de la Grande Guerre. Le canon de 75 modèle 1897 est le plus représentatif de l’artillerie française pendant la 1ère Guerre Mondiale : il constitue 45 % des pièces utilisées pendant ce conflit.
Tom is this the item you mean ? Followed by a better shot of the horse drawn artillery.
Took a look at the museum's website and it appears to be a celebration for the feast day of the french(?) patron saint of artillery. Previously done in 2004 with only on cannon and four horses apparently, back bigger and better by popular demand this year. Then there is something about manouvering the guns with the 6 and 4 horse teams. It only appears to mention the WW1 uniformed team not the other and the fact the model 75 was the most common french artillery piece of WW1. Well that's my best guess on what it said - here's the original if any educated people are about.
A l’occasion de la Sainte-Barbe, patronne des Artilleurs (fêtée le 4 décembre), le musée de l’Armée propose au grand public une animation historique exceptionnelle dans la cour d’honneur de l’Hôtel national des Invalides. Le succès remporté auprès du public par cette animation en décembre 2004 conduit le musée à la renouveler cette année, en lui donnant une plus grande ampleur : 2 canons et 10 chevaux (en 2004 : 1 canon et 6 chevaux).
Au programme : manœuvre de deux canons de 75 attelés, l’un tiré par six chevaux, l’autre par 4 chevaux - des postiers bretons - en présence de 7 servants en uniforme 1915, la fameuse tenue bleu horizon des poilus de la Grande Guerre. Le canon de 75 modèle 1897 est le plus représentatif de l’artillerie française pendant la 1ère Guerre Mondiale : il constitue 45 % des pièces utilisées pendant ce conflit.
The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it.
Woftam,
Yes, that was one of the toys (there's another of a slightly different design on the other corner at the same end), the trouble is, the works are clogged - I was tempted to ask if I could do my uni plascement there trying to get the things working, but I don't think that would have gone down too well .
I suspect that, there may be words sais over the loose shield plate in your second photo*.
For a laugh, I've included the "Bablefish translation of tyour French text.
Tom
* Probably very loud words which don't translate very well and coming from an irate Sergeant/WO or whatever the French equivalent is (Chef de Battalion?)
Yes, that was one of the toys (there's another of a slightly different design on the other corner at the same end), the trouble is, the works are clogged - I was tempted to ask if I could do my uni plascement there trying to get the things working, but I don't think that would have gone down too well
.I suspect that, there may be words sais over the loose shield plate in your second photo*.
For a laugh, I've included the "Bablefish translation of tyour French text.
I love the idea of the horses being "Breton post-office employees" - ah well, computer translation is still at the stage of being an art not a science."... With the occasion of Sainte-Barbe, owner of the Artillerists (celebrated on December 4), the museum of the Army proposes with general public an exceptional historical animation in the main courtyard of the national Hotel of the Invalids. The success gained near the public by this animation in December 2004 conduit the museum to renew it this year, by giving a greater broadth to him: 2 guns and 10 horses (in 2004: 1 gun and 6 horses).
With the program: man?uvre of two harnessed guns of 75, one drawn by six horses, the other by 4 horses - Breton post-office employees - in the presence of 7 being useful in uniform 1915, the famous behaviour blue horizon of hairy of the Large War. The gun of 75 model 1897 is most representative of French artillery during the 1st World war: it constitutes 45 % of the parts used during this conflict. ,,,"
Tom
* Probably very loud words which don't translate very well and coming from an irate Sergeant/WO or whatever the French equivalent is (Chef de Battalion?)
The Truth IS Out There, The lies are in your head. (T. Pratchett - 'Hogfather'))
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Aughnanure
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