What was the expected time to load and fire

What was the expected time to load and fire? The type of cannon that was used at the Battle of Isandlwana. Also if possible can someone give an over-view of the roll required by each individual from start to finish? I do believe each member had a title (i.e.) was the person with the ramrod called a rammer ECT.

If a member of the artillery was killed or injured could someone step in and carryout his duties. (Were the members fully trained in all procedures?)

So I take no one knows.

hi John .
I cant find anything in my books , I have seen something before regarding rates of fire and the men's drilling but it may have been
on-line and cant tell you where I saw it .
cheers 90th.

Thanks 90th. I have been looking. Just want to know the names of the crews positions, Roll played by each, and expected time to load fire and reload. (Not to much to ask)

Hi John.
I have searched many sites and books and cant find anything to break down the names of those attending the guns or
their own individual roles !. I dont know how much Knowledge Neil Aspinshaw has on the Artillery side of things , but he may know someone who has this damn hard to find info . Failing that you could send an Email to the museum of the Royal Artillery or whatever
its name may be . I will keep looking also. .
cheers 90th.

A little bit of information each member of a gun crew had a number for each number their
was a list duties ie the No1 was the gun commander, No2 maybe the layer, each gun number
may have had several tasks

Sorry late in on this topic, I have been busy sorting out all my teenie parts for ebay.

The 7pdr RML, was not a paticularily difficult animal to load and the rate of fire whilst being monitoired by Smith, would be to suit the situation. you have to look into the firing drill, then think of adrenalin, jittery nerves etc.

So load the cartridge, The 7pdr RML had three charges 12oz, 8oz and 6oz contianed in a silk bag, (also serge) we refer to the steel gun in N5's so it would be the 12oz, size was 5.75-6.25 inches long, diamter <2.5 inches. This is rammed home.

The shot is then loaded, there was three options
1) Case: Mark 1V (approved 26/2/72) which was a 5 inch long x 2.94 inch diamter three part case containing 70 lead and anitmony balls, weighing 4.4lb, packed in clay and sand (later pattern had bone meal), simply ram home the cylinder, insert friction tube, aim and fire.
b) Shrapnel, either MkV or MkV1 by 1875. This is a conventional shell shape, with copper driving studs. The bombardier would set the fuse, done by pricking the fuse nose with holes to set the explosion times by increments of .5 seconds.This in turn is ignited by a trailing fuse that is lit by the propellant. The fuse is knocked in and the shell is rammed home. This process would take probably take 20 seconds to carry out.
c) Common shell, shape as the shrapnel, however the bombardier would need to firstly line up the shell wih the rifling, push part home, then remove the safety pin to arm the fuse, which is screwed into place. The ramrod would then force home the shell ready for firing.

Firing.
A friction tube of brass is pushed into the firing hole, this punctures the silk bag. The Gunners lanyard would be used to pull the ring and set off the charge.


After firing, the bombardier would use the worm to check no burning pieces of the silk or serge is left in the barrel, before ramming home the next charge.

As with any experience gun team, drill, drill drill, makes it a fine tuned machine, with the commander calling out the next round, range, with which the bombardier would be pre-thinking what he needs to do.

Hi Neil .
Thanks for the informative reply , I couldnt find anything in my books on this subject . This will make John
happy I would expect . .
cheers 90th.

Neil thanks for the information. Which of the gun crew had the most risky job.