Yes I was aware of the distinction in ammunition loading for the unicorn. The precise loading I had forgotten. The later shell guns of the 1820-40s fired hollow shell as in the French and British.
It is interesting that the 1/2 Pud Unicorn was only slightly shorter than the Russian M1805 Light 12-pdr. The use of fixed ammunition as you kindly pointed out means that the role of the Unicorn was certain in the mind of the Russian Artillery establishment as a field piece rather than a hybrid mortar as still practiced with the Gribeauval Howitzer that took various powder charges and higher elevation. This is what I was trying to elude to.
The Russian came to the conclusion that longer howitzers were better for range and accuracy back in the 1750s. It was not until 1803 did France realise this which was rather late and soon all other countries followed suit over the next decade or so.
1. Saxon M 1766 4-pdr Granadstuck that was 9 calibres long.
2. Bavarian M 1800 7-pdr Howitzer of 7 calibres.
3. French An XI 24-pdr Howitzer of 7 calibres [1803]
4. Wurtemberg M 1809 7-pdr Howitzer of 8 calibres.
5. Royal Horse Artillery from its inception in the 1780s used the Light 5.5in Howitzer on the block trail but still only 5 calibres. Its elevation was only about 16 degrees so accuracy was poor. Only with the introduction of the Heavy 5.5in howitzer of 7 calibres was there a considerable improvement but this was about 1810 for the block trail. This had been used by the Foot Artillery since the 1780s on a bracket trail. Only in 1824 with the introduction of the Millar Howizitzers that were 10 calibres long do we get a British howitzer as accurate as the equivalent Russian Unicorn.
Stephen Summerfield
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« The M1766 Granadstück based upon the Russian Unicorn was a long barrelled howitzer that could fire an early form of spherical case [Shrapnel]. »
Stephen Summerfield dans la présentation de son livre sur l’artillerie saxonne.
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Summerfield S. (Oct 2009) “Saxon Ordnance and Vehicles 1810-15″, NGA Ordnance 1 (01) [£10 for 2 plates on 170g card]
- M 1766 4-pdr Schnellfeuergeschutze Regimental gun [elevation]
- M 1766 Granadstuck [elevation]
- M 1810 12-pdr [plan]
- M 1810 6-pdr [elevation]
- M 1810 8-pdr howitzer [elevation]
- M 1810 Limber
- M 1813 Caisson
+ 2 page article upon the ordnance, vehicles and ordnance colour.
En 1810 - 1815, le 4 livres « Schnellfeuergeschutze Regimental gun » est toujours d'actualité, donc certainement en dotation régimentaire.
Ainsi, apparemment, que le « Granadstuck » qui semble être un équivalent de la licorne russe : c'est-à-dire un obusier long ou canon-obusier !