Gribeauval's System of Artillery

In 1765 General Gribeauval instituted many much-needed improvements in the personnel and materiel of the French Artillery. In field artil lery he discarded all pieces of greater caliber than the 12pounder, thus giving it greater mobility; made the carriages of a uniform model with interchangeable parts, introduced iron axles, replaced the shafts by poles, harne ed the horses in pairs instead of in file, and supplied ammunition-boxes to the carriages. Batteries of six guns replaced the regimental guns, and horsing by contract was superseded by a well-drilled corps of drivers. This increased mobility and more efficient organization bore excellent fruit in the Napoleonic Wars. Similar modifications simplified the Siege Artillery, which comprised the 12 and 16-pounder guns, the 8-inch howitzer, and 10-inch mortar.