Re: [GZG-L] Request for comments and information

In a message dated 7/20/99 3:56:48 PM EST, john_t_leary@pronetusa.net
writes:

<<    As the former training officer for the 3rd U.S. artillery, battery
 L+M
 the crews were trained to make 3 rounds per minute (quite easily, for a
 6
 gun battery).	 This was accomplished using the complete drill and 
 (in actual combat) this could be increased by dropping the
non-important
 part of the drill. (Swabbing and draining the barrel).   Our powder
 monkey
 had only 10 yards to go for powder and had one round staged in his ammo
 bag.
 (10 Lb ordinance rifle) >>

Just one thing to note about field guns. They were on an entirely
different 
carriage. Under field conditions artillery pieces were aloowed to roll
back 
and then reloaded where they stopped - in other words there was not run
out 
time involved. There was no reason to drag the fieldpieces back up to
the 
line. Yes, powder monkeys determined the rate of fire for broadsides BUT

independent fire was quite common with each gun crew working as fast as
it 
could. The naval gun had to be dragged back to the port by men hauling
on 
ropes - even the block and tackle arrangement didn't relieve the time 
required to haul those monsters (which were usually bigger than
artillery 
field pieces) back up to the gun port.