nicburch Posted 20 September , 2004 Share Posted 20 September , 2004 Hello All,How many men,horses etc. were needed to make up a field battery,what was the highest calibre towed by horses and how many batteries per brigade/division? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 20 September , 2004 Share Posted 20 September , 2004 Oberon The war strength of an RFA field battery on the outbreak of war was 230 all ranks, 180 horses and 6 guns. An RFA Brigade consisted of 964 all ranks, with 954 horses, six horses for each gun, 3 batteries per brigade. The standard weapon was the 18 pounder. In November 1916 , the composition of divisional artillery brigade changed with the addition of a battery of 4.5 howitzer battery (12 guns). Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicburch Posted 22 September , 2004 Author Share Posted 22 September , 2004 Terry, You mention an RFA brigade consisting of 954 all ranks,about the size of an infantry battalion,is this correct.Would one brigade be attached to each division? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 22 September , 2004 Share Posted 22 September , 2004 Terry You forgot the 5 bicycles with the Brigade and 1 with the Battery my establishment is slightly less. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tintin1689 Posted 22 September , 2004 Share Posted 22 September , 2004 At the beginning of the war the RFA component of an infantry division was three field brigades with 18 pounders and one howitzer brigade with 4.5s (older weapons such as the 15 pounder may also be come across) You are correct that the Artillery Brigade was equivalent to the battalion in the infantry All field artillery was suitable for horse draught as by definition it had to be mobile enough to support an infantry division in the field. In the Royal Garrison Artillery the 60 pounder was suitable for horse draught (but with the Clydesdale heavy draught horses rather than the lighter horses used in the RFA) and was the largest gun allocated at divisional level. I am uncertain which of the heavier pieces were still suitable for horse draught and would be interested if any of the pals can supply information. Certainly the 9.2, 12 and 15 inch howitzers were for mechanical draught (which was supplied by the RASC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 22 September , 2004 Share Posted 22 September , 2004 John Forgot all about the bicycles. Careless of me! Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tintin1689 Posted 23 September , 2004 Share Posted 23 September , 2004 Further enquiry shows that the 60 pounder and 6" gun were the heaviest pieces designed for horse draught. Across the combattants the general rule seems to have been that guns with projectiles weighing around 100 pounds were the upper limits for horses.Heavier pieces could be moved by horse draught in exceptional circumstances using teams of up to 18 Clydesdales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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