Your thoughts on including artillery limbers in an army (acw)

[petercooman]

Good morning chaps!

I'm choosing stuff for my next order, and was wondering about getting limbers for my ACW armies. While counting the guns, i realized that i would need 10 limbers, and that was before i added more  artillery to my order.

Now seeing the pendraken limber (the new one), looks pretty big, and each gun is on a single 40x20 base, the thought hit me that i could use a single based limber  to represent every limber of the battery. (in severed union, batteries are two gun bases maximum)

How did you represent limbers in your armies? One for each gun? Ratio of 2 to 1, 4 to 1...... etc.  All ideas welcome!


Actually my rulebook came with 'limbered' counters to represent them, but i don't think that will look as good 

[fsn]

Ooooh! I'm a limbers fan. One per gun.

I use the limber on its own to show the gun limbered and only place the gun when it's ready for action.

This came about because I hated the look of a limber going full tilt with gunners apparently running backwards. 

[petercooman]

Ooooh! I'm a limbers fan. One per gun.

I use the limber on its own to show the gun limbered and only place the gun when it's ready for action.

This came about because I hated the look of a limber going full tilt with gunners apparently running backwards. 

That would kill my budget 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I only have limbers in table on horse artillery batteries in 1870.
Since horse artillery wasn't really a great feature of the ACW, I would have a couple on separate bases, to use as markers for limbered and moving artillery.
Or just use the time honoured 'turn the guns backward' to show they are limbered.

[petercooman]

I only have limbers in table on horse artillery batteries in 1870.
Since horse artillery wasn't really a great feature of the ACW, I would have a couple on separate bases, to use as markers for limbered and moving artillery.
Or just use the time honoured 'turn the guns backward' to show they are limbered.

Sounds good. I wanted to avoid the gun backwards, as one of our gaming group really has bad eyes (and i mean really bad) and the big limber next to it would be a great visual aid. The joy of providing both armies, makes this a costly bussiness 

I just can't decide if i should order more artillery though, I have 6 guns (So 3 batteries in the rules) for the union, and 4 for the confederates,but don't know if this will be enough 

[Leman]

Limbers make good markers, but never had one per gun as guns are mostly deployed. Warbases also produce a penny sized MDF counter featuring a horse's head and the word limbered for those who don't want to spend time painting limbers.

[fsn]

How about using the field forge (ACW64, £2.70 for 2) as an indicator? 

[Fenton]

I often think artillery takes up too little space on the table compared to what accompanied each battery on a real battlefield

[petercooman]

Limbers make good markers, but never had one per gun as guns are mostly deployed. Warbases also produce a penny sized MDF counter featuring a horse's head and the word limbered for those who don't want to spend time painting limbers.

They look nice, but i'd use the games counters if i would use any to mark limbered guns, that way they all fit togheter. Mine feature a limber.

How about using the field forge (ACW64, £2.70 for 2) as an indicator? 

In my mind i would never be able to shake the thought of the guns hauling dozens of field forges about 

I often think artillery takes up too little space on the table compared to what accompanied each battery on a real battlefield

Didn't they keep most stuff a good deal backwards when in battle?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

French Guard artillery deployed at Chalons in 1857...
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/7075/gardeart19.jpg

We tend to deploy one gun and say it's a battery, but look at the width and depth here.
You have to count in six guns, each of which needs space, especially when they fire, and room for crew.
Then behind would be limbers with at least four horses, and then ammunition caissons with usually 6 horses, HQ, ambulances and forges. An artillery battery would take up a huge amount of space!

Where were we...
Oh yeah.
Detachable limbers, and a club agreement.
I know people hate them, but my FPW artillery is labelled on its rear edge to show which way it goes! Especially as I have limbers based  on horse artillery batteries, which can confuse people!

[fsn]

To be fair, they don't look like forges to me.

[Fenton]

They look nice, but i'd use the games counters if i would use any to mark limbered guns, that way they all fit togheter. Mine feature a limber.

In my mind i would never be able to shake the thought of the guns hauling dozens of field forges about 


Didn't they keep most stuff a good deal backwards when in battle?

From memory all the limbers,horses and all the rest of the stuff usually stretched for about 200 yards directly behind the battery

[getagrip]

I ordered one pack of limbers,  I'm with Will on this one,  I'm going to use them to represent moving artillery.

[petercooman]

Detachable limbers, and a club agreement.
I know people hate them, but my FPW artillery is labelled on its rear edge to show which way it goes! Especially as I have limbers based  on horse artillery batteries, which can confuse people!

That's the fun about providing both sides, the club agreement is entirely up to yourself 

I ordered one pack of limbers,  I'm with Will on this one,  I'm going to use them to represent moving artillery.

I think i'll get 3 limbers for each side, they look fun and nice to paint, and i don't think i'll ever have more than 6 moving about at the same time anyway.

To be fair, they don't look like forges to me.

They look nice, but so small with only 2 horses, i'm a bit worried they get a little 'lost' on the field between all the infantry!

From memory all the limbers,horses and all the rest of the stuff usually stretched for about 200 yards directly behind the battery

That would be bloody hard to represent on a table 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

200yrds on table really is not far! Just depends on your ground scale!
I have my FPW infantry on 3" squares and artillery on 1 1/2" wide by 3" deep blocks, it allows mini diorama building!