Jean de Gribeauval (French General) modernized and reorganized French fire sup- port to produce a century of artillery dominance. His innovative advances in the standardization of calibers, compatibility of carriage and cannon parts, and advances in mobility provided guidelines that continue today. In addition to improving weaponry, Gribeauval also taught tactics and the use of artillery to several great captains of the period, including Napoleon I.
Born the son of a magistrate in Amiens on September 17, 1715, Gribeauval enlisted in the French artillery in 1732. Three years later, he earned a commission and for the next twenty years served in various regimental positions and studied the art of artillery. At the outbreak of the Seven Years’ War, Gribeauval, detached to the Austrian army, saw action at the Siege of Glatz in June-July 1760 and later assisted in the defense of Schweidnitz. He earned promotions to lieutenant field marshal and by war’s end commanded all of Austria’s artillery forces.
On his return to France in 1764, Gribeauval became the inspector of artillery. He advanced to the rank of lieutenant general the following year, but because of his lack of influence within the royal court, another ten years passed before Gribeauval gained the position of chief inspector of artillery. After more than forty years of service as an artilleryman, Gribeauval finally was in a position to initiate the changes and innovations he had been planning since his time as a junior officer.
The basis of Gribeauval’s reforms lay in the standardization of cannon calibers and the assignment of specific guns to specific missions. Prior to Gribeauval, armies amassed cannons of all sizes, weights, and mobility for whatever mission that developed. Gribeauval established three categories of artillery—field, siege, and garrison. He limited gun production to four-, eight-, and twelve-pounders and reduced the overall gun weight to 150 times that of its projectile. He restricted the larger, heavier, less mobile eight- and twelve-pounders to garrison and coastal defenses and to long-term sieges of enemy strongpoints. Gribeauval focused on the four-pounder, and later introduced a six-pounder, as the primary offensive artillery guns.
Gribeauval recognized that the greatest restriction of artillery, particularly in the offense, lay in its lack of mobility. He instituted changes to enable artillery pieces to keep pace not only with foot soldiers but also with the cavalry. To accomplish this goal, he harnessed horses in pairs attached to lighter, better-built gun carriages equipped with storage compartments for ball and powder. He standardized gun-carriage fittings as well as cannon parts so that they were interchangeable. Gribeauval also added extra caissons to carry ammunition, spare parts, and supplies for the crewmen.
To improve accuracy, Gribeauval insisted on more quality control in the uniform size and weight of projectile casting and in the production of gunpowder. More importandy, he devised tangent scales and elevating screws to ease laying die guns on target and provide accurate adjustments.
The French artillery chief also reorganized the artillery into batteries of eight guns each so that the same crew members, horses, and guns stayed together as a team. These self-sufficient batteries maneuvered as units and practiced to fire in volley.
Gribeauval recognized that the quality of the artillery crews was as important as the guns themselves. He replaced the traditional civilian drivers and horse handlers with regular soldiers. Rigid training, consisting of repetitious drills and live fire practices, honed the crews into efficient teams. He also lobbied for increased pay and better living conditions for his artillery crews as well as the rest of the army’s enlisted personnel.
Gribeauval believed that for artillery to be employed to its greatest advantage the French commanders had to better understand its capabilities and limitations. He began specialized artillery training for officers, and many of France’s leading commanders, including Napoleon Bonaparte, studied under him. Gribeauval continued his services to France and to the advancement of artillery until his death in Paris on May 9, 1789.
Gribeauval elevated artillery to a status equal to infantry and cavalry in the triad of land-warfare assets. While Sweden’s Gus- tavus Adolphus and his subordinate Lennart Torstensson established the importance of artillery, Gribeauval advanced their ideas and integrated artillery into modern warfare. Because of his innovations in equipment, care of enlisted artillerymen, and training of his country’s great leaders, France dominated the field of artillery into the nineteenth century.