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Weapons System

Canon de 12 Gribeauval

Gribeauval: [ɡʁiboval]
Also Known As 12-Pounder Cannon
Artillery And Mortars
Canon de 12 Gribeauval glyph

The Canon de 12 Gribeauval was the heaviest field gun in the artillery system designed by Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval, adopted by France in 1765 to replace the older, heavier Valliere system. Roughly half the weight of equivalent Valliere-era guns without loss of range, it featured standardized calibers, interchangeable carriage parts, a calibrated gunsight and an elevating screw. It became the mainstay of French field and corps artillery through the Napoleonic Wars. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Caliber
121mm 1
Service Status
Retired 2
Weapon Class
Field artillery (12-pounder cannon) 1
Introduced Year
1765 2
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category)
Howitzer / Artillery 1
FAQs

What other field guns belonged to the Gribeauval system alongside the 12-pounder?

An 8-pounder and a 4-pounder.

Gribeauval reduced the existing multiplicity of different-calibred French field pieces to just three, firing 12-pound, 8-pound and 4-pound balls respectively, so the 12-pounder sat beside an 8-pounder and a 4-pounder.

Did Gribeauval separate French artillery into different kinds of guns?

Yes, into field, siege and coastal defense guns.

Yes. Gribeauval separated French artillery into three clearly defined categories according to the intended use of the gun, namely for use in the field, in sieges, or in coastal defense.
Connections

Associated With

Grande Armee, Armed Forces and Units
Source Wikipedia: Canon de 12 Gribeauval
War of the Third Coalition, Wars

The Gribeauval 12-pounder was the Grande Armee's standard field gun during the War of the Third Coalition, including Austerlitz.

Source Wikipedia: Canon de 12 Gribeauval

Operated By

French Armed Forces, Armed Forces and Units
Source Wikipedia: Gribeauval system

Used In

American Revolutionary War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Gribeauval system
Napoleonic Wars, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Gribeauval system
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Canon de 12 Gribeauval
Wikipedia
  • body text
    the heaviest cannon in the French field artillery
  • Wikipedia infobox cartridge/caliber field (w-bbfill-military6-0927)
  • Associated With: Grande Armee, Lead section
    The greatest use of Gribeauval guns came during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. During the latter wars, the 12-pounder was often employed in corps artillery reserves.
  • In Group: Towed Howitzers and Field Guns, Lead sentence
    The Canon de 12 Gribeauval or 12-pounder was a French cannon and part of the system developed by Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval.
View the Source
2. Wikipedia: Gribeauval system
Wikipedia
  • Lead section
    The Gribeauval system (French: système Gribeauval, pronounced [sistɛm ɡʁiboval]) was an artillery system introduced by Lieutenant General Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval during the 18th century.
  • infobox, pronunciation (surname)
    [ɡʁiboval]
  • field guns listing section
    Canon de 12 Gribeauval, 12-pounder cannon
  • Infobox: service
    1765-1829
  • Operated By: French Armed Forces, Article text
    The new guns contributed to French military victories during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.
  • Used In: American Revolutionary War, Infobox: wars
    American Revolutionary War French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars
  • Used In: Napoleonic Wars, Infobox: wars
    American Revolutionary War French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars
View the Source
Wikidata: Canon de 12 Gribeauval
Wikidata Q5608548, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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