Prussian Artillery

Presented here are the first Prussian artillery units for the Franco-Prussian War. These represent the 1st and 2nd Light Batteries of the 7th Field Artillery Regiment.

In the structure of the North German army (the organisation of the South German forces differed  from the North) a field artillery regiment was assigned to each army corps. That regiment was recruited and garrisoned in the same region as the corps. It consisted of four subdivisions of three field artillery and one horse artillery divisions. One field divisions, comprised of two light batteries each equipped with six Krupp C64 (commonly called “4 pound”) guns and two heavy batteries each equipped with six Krupp C67 (6 pound) guns, was attached to each of the infantry divisions of the corps, while the third formed the corps reserve. The horse division was also attached to the corps reserve and comprised of three light batteries, although one battery was detached from the regiment and attached to one of the six cavalry divisions. So each corps could muster fourteen batteries or 84 guns.

This structure was pretty much the match winner for the Germans in 1870 because in meant that every infantry division could count on the support of 24 guns whereas the French division could call on only 12 field guns and six mitraillueses. More importantly the structure allowed the change in doctrine that was decisive by placing the corps artillery under the direct control of the corps chief of artillery, who held a generals’ rank and overall responsibility for the guns. This enabled the most effective tactical employment of the artillery and avoided the mistakes of 1866 where too many guns were left in reserve and out of the battle line. Batteries were also brought forward in the order of march and often followed the lead battalion into action providing support as soon as the action opened.

For those who note the brown hue to the steel barrels, they were chemically oxidised then the linseed oil was rubbed into the oxide to protect them from further corrosion.