Canon de 12 Gribeauval

Canon de 12 Gribeauval

Canon de 12 Gribeauval, An 2 de la République ("Year II of the Republic", i.e. 1793-1794), Les Invalides
Place of origin France
Service history
Used by France
Wars French Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars
American War of Independence
Production history
Designer Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval
Specifications
Weight 880 kg
Barrel length 229 cm (7 ft 6 in)
Crew 15 crews, 6 horses

Shell 118.1 mm
Caliber 121.3 mm
Barrels 1
Effective firing range Ball: 900-1,000 m
Grapeshot: 500-700 m
Canister: 500 m

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 maneuverability.

Gribeauval cannon de 12, An 2 de la Republique (1793–1794).
Gribeauval cannon de 12, An 2 de la Republique (1793–1794), in profile.
Canon de 12 Gribeauval breech inscription.

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.[1] 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.[2]

Notes