Ammunition wagon for 4pdr and 9pdr guns

Old Russian field guns used the limber M. 1843 (передка обр. 1843 г.), a two wheeled caisson (2-колесный зарядный ящик обр. 1848 г.), and a little number of battery wagon.

Like all the Krupp and Russian models of that ages, the limber was characterized by the pintle, that was an iron post, 45 cm high, fixed to the rear end of the pole, which projected more than 60 cm behind the axle. It afforded more facility for limbering up, but caused a perpetual change of balance in the pole, whose the front end was sometimes on the level of the horses’ necks and sometimes at their knees. The chest was made of wood and was placed somewhat in front of the axle, in order to counterbalance the pressure of the trail. However, as in the field a certain amount of forage and something else were always packed on the trail, and, since the amount of the ammunition varied according with the circumstances, it was impossible to adjust these weights with such a long leverage of pintle.

The caisson consisted of a chest, square in horizontal cross-section, in exterior measurement 1.42 m. It opened from the right-hand side. The caisson was drawn by three horses, one attached at the shaft and two sideways; but, due to the difficulty of driving, it could be drawn even by only two horses. Its total length including the shaft was 3.95 m. As a rule in the Russian Army every 9 pdr gun was accompanied by three such caissons, and every 4 pdr gun only by two.

This kind of caisson was very convenient for manoeuvring and in making short turns, but also very inconvenient in ascending and descending hills. Moreover it had the disadvantage of every two-wheeled vehicles in the weight which came on the back of the horse in the shafts.

The battery wagon was similar in shape to the infantry and cavalry train wagons used by Russian Army during the war against Turkey (1877-78). It was drawn by four horses abreast, the driver sitting on the wagon. It could carry 1,146 kg of tools and supplies.

		9 pdr	4 pdr
limber	empty :	374.8 kg
	loaded :	565 kg	504 kg
	shells :	6	8
	shrapnel :	3	8
	case shots :	3	2
caisson	loaded :	1476 kg
	shells :	17	27
	shrapnel :	18	27
	case shots :	1	2
wagon	empty :	606 kg
	loaded :	1752 kg

Russian 9pdr heavy field gun with the limber