Results 1 to 30 of 83

Thread: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Member Member Polemists's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    In the Lou
    Posts
    1,213

    Default Re: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

    but really really, let's get aside from all this jargon and get down to the core of matter



    Who has the biggest cannon in this timeframe?

  2. #2

    Default Re: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

    Quote Originally Posted by Polemists View Post
    but really really, let's get aside from all this jargon and get down to the core of matter



    Who has the biggest cannon in this timeframe?
    Whosoever had the most impressive foundry I expect. Do you think its only size that counts?
    But vain the spear and vain the bow,
    They never can work War's overthrow;
    The hermit's prayer and the widow's tear
    Alone can free the world from fear
    (Blake)

  3. #3
    The Dam Dog Senior Member Sheogorath's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    1,330

    Default Re: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

    I believe the dragoons DID take on a 'mounted infantry' role once again after the Napoleonic Wars, however, when rifles started to become common. The need for cavalry grew less, and people started seeing the advantage of highly mobile infantry again.

    Polemists, the Russians :P
    The Tsar Cannon has, according to Wikipedia, a calibur of ~900cm, about 35 inches, and was the largest gun in the world from the time it was built until the World War II. Apparently it was designed to fire grapeshot down Moscow's main street in the event of an attack on the city, and was never used.

    In terms of the largest cannons that were actually used (in this period), I believe that award goes to the Turks:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Turkish_Bombard

    n 1464, Mehmed II commissioned 42 of the monster cannons to guard the Dardanelles. Each weighed 18 tonnes with a 750 mm (30 in) bore.

    These huge cannons were still present for duty more than 300 years later in 1807, when a Royal Navy force appeared and commenced the Dardanelles Operation. Turkish forces loaded the ancient relics with propellant and projectiles, then fired them at the British ships. Instead of exploding, the cannon worked just as well as when they were new. Two shots on a single British ship killed 60 sailors.[3]

    In 1867, Abdülâziz gave Queen Victoria one of these impressive and historic weapons. It became a part of the Royal Armouries collection and was displayed to visitors at the Tower of London[4] and was then moved to Fort Nelson at Portsmouth.
    I can't see something like that being effective in battle though...it'd take all day to reload. And it looks like their accuracy wasn't so great.

    But hey, they had them in MTW2, why not do it again? :P

    Anyway...in terms of actual EFFECTIVE cannons, I'd be willing to bet on the Russians. They favored their artillery the way other European nations tended to favor cavalry.
    Last edited by Sheogorath; 11-29-2008 at 17:59.
    Tallyho lads, rape the houses and burn the women! Leave not a single potted plant alive! Full speed ahead and damn the cheesemongers!

  4. #4
    Member Member Oleander Ardens's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,007

    Default Re: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

    There is little doubt that overall the most effective artillery was French. Brilliant organization, effective standartization, highly trained men and officers due to tradition and much love by Napoleon. Of course part of the great impact it made in the large battles is also due to the tactical genius of Napoleon, which usually deployed it where it's strenghts could shine.

    Still the Russian Artillery was quite surly the best of the Allies, with a huge number of guns and very brave and well trained men serving them.
    "Silent enim leges inter arma - For among arms, the laws fall mute"
    Cicero, Pro Milone

  5. #5
    Member Megas Methuselah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Prairie Grasslands
    Posts
    5,040

    Exclamation Re: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

    Quote Originally Posted by Fisherking
    I am curious if the Swedish recruiting/manning system will be portrayed in the game.
    Yeah, it should be interesting to see how CA spins this out.

  6. #6
    The Dam Dog Senior Member Sheogorath's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    1,330

    Default Re: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

    Quote Originally Posted by Oleander Ardens View Post
    There is little doubt that overall the most effective artillery was French. Brilliant organization, effective standartization, highly trained men and officers due to tradition and much love by Napoleon. Of course part of the great impact it made in the large battles is also due to the tactical genius of Napoleon, which usually deployed it where it's strenghts could shine.

    Still the Russian Artillery was quite surly the best of the Allies, with a huge number of guns and very brave and well trained men serving them.
    The debate of Russian vs. French artillery is an endless one. It's all based on what sources you think are more reliable, since nobody from the period agrees on that subject.

    But the question was who had the largest cannon. It's simply my guess that the Russians would be the ones to deploy the largest cannons in battle. It's just a Russian thing :P
    Tallyho lads, rape the houses and burn the women! Leave not a single potted plant alive! Full speed ahead and damn the cheesemongers!

  7. #7
    Undercover Lurker Member Mailman653's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Mansfield, TX
    Posts
    1,309

    Default Re: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

    Generally speaking though, the time frame will have Royal French soldiers, not Republican French soldiers (unless there is a successful revolution). Therefore, a more accurate debate would be artillery in the Royal French army vs the Russian's.

    I don't know much about this subject to be honest but military doctrine between the French army before Napoleon and after in regards to artillery deployment could be quite different.

    But going back on topic, it would be funny if you can recruit elephants in one part of the world, put them on a boat and send them somewhere else. Imagine an elephant going wild in the streets of Vienna.
    Last edited by Mailman653; 11-29-2008 at 21:02.

  8. #8
    The Dam Dog Senior Member Sheogorath's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    1,330

    Default Re: Units: speculation, rumor, slander and silliness

    Hmmmm...
    *Formulating plans to conquer India as Spain and march across the Alps with imported elephants.*
    Tallyho lads, rape the houses and burn the women! Leave not a single potted plant alive! Full speed ahead and damn the cheesemongers!

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO