Royal Artillery

Northumbrian Gunners

Saturday, 15 September 2018

Op Lille - Canonniers Sedentaires de Lille Museum

The Lille Artillery Museum records the history of the Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.

 
Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille Museum


Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille
 
Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille Museum
Tyneside Scottish Branch RAA
The museum contains two 4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons presented to the Canonniers  de Lille by Napoleon Bonaparte.
 
4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon

The système Gribeauval artillery system introduced by Lieutenant General Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval during the 18th century. The method for the casting of gun barrels prior to the Gribeauval system was pouring molten metal around a clay core which was removed to leave the guns bore. This produced imperfections in the barrel preventing a tight fit of cannon balls resulting in loss of explosive power.
 
The Gribeauval system cast the barrel as a solid block. The bore was then drilled out allowing in a consistent and accurate bore. This resulted in increased accuracy and lighter artillery barrels for the same range as previous guns.
 
The 4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons were introduced in 1765 and used during the American Revolutionary Wars (1775-1783), French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802), and the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815).
 
 
 
 
4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon limbered for movement

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon ammunition

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons