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The Year XI system (French:"Système An XI", after of the 11th year of the
One of the main findings of the committee was as follows:
* To recommend the introduction of a 6-pdr and the suppression of the 4-pdr and the 8-pdr.
* The field artillery would thus be composed of a 12-pdr cannon, a 6-pdr cannon and a 24-pdr (5.72-inch)
The Year XI system would be further improved with the Valée system in 1828.
{{French weapons of the 19th century Artillery of France Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars
The Year XI system (French:"Système An XI", after of the 11th year of the French Republic
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, i.e. 1803) was a French artillery system developed during the rule of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
. The Year XI system was original in that it brought various improvements to the highly successful Gribeauval system, on which many successes of the Napoleonic Wars
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Napoleonic Wars
, partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
, image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg
, caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...
relied. It especially consisted in streamlining the existing Gribeauval designs. The main proponent of the new system was General Marmont. It was superseded by the Valée system.
Definition
In light of theFrench Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars () were a series of sweeping military conflicts resulting from the French Revolution that lasted from 1792 until 1802. They pitted French First Republic, France against Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain, Habsb ...
it appeared especially that the Gribeauval 4-pdr was too light, and that the 8-pdr was too heavy for medium field artillery. These two guns had not appeared adequate against enemy 6-pdr guns.
In order to define the new improved system, Napoleon formed a committee of Artillery on 29 December 1801, presided by general Augustin Gabriel d'Aboville, First Inspector of Artillery. The committee accomplished its research from 11 January 1802 to 21 July 1802. Napoleon himself participated in the proceedings:
The committee gave its results on 2 May 1803.
One of the main findings of the committee was as follows:
* To recommend the introduction of a 6-pdr and the suppression of the 4-pdr and the 8-pdr.
* The field artillery would thus be composed of a 12-pdr cannon, a 6-pdr cannon and a 24-pdr (5.72-inch) howitzer
The howitzer () is an artillery weapon that falls between a cannon (or field gun) and a mortar. It is capable of both low angle fire like a field gun and high angle fire like a mortar, given the distinction between low and high angle fire break ...
.
* The mountain artillery would have the short 3-pdr cannon, short 6-pdr cannon and 24-pdr howitzer.
* Siege artillery was also modified, with the introduction of new Long 24-pdr and Short 24-pdr.
* Garrison artillery was also modified, with the introduction of new Long 24-pdr, Long 12-pdr and Long 6-pdr cannons.
* New Mortars as well as 324mm, 216mm and 152mm mortars, and 405mm perriers.Dawson et al (2007) p 74, 173 and 177-179
Obsolescence
The Year XI system would be further improved with the Valée system in 1828.
See also
Notes
References
* Dawson, A.L., Dawson P.L. and Summerfield S. (2007) Napoleonic Artillery, Crowood Press, * Smith, Digby (trans) (2011) "The Austrian Cavalry Gun in Comparison to the Horse Artillery of Other States by Smola in 1827," ''Smoothbore Ordnance Journal,'' Issue 1, Ken Trotman Publishing,{{French weapons of the 19th century Artillery of France Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars