Encyclopedia · Carriages, vehicles, and implements

Field carriage

The field carriage was the light two-wheeled, stock-trail carriage that mounted a field gun or howitzer, took its recoil, and hooked to a limber for travel.

Also known as: field gun carriage.

TypeLight wheeled field-gun carriage
TrailSingle wooden stock trail
WheelsTwo iron-tired wheels
TravelHooks to a limber

Mount for the field gun

The field carriage carried a field gun or howitzer on trunnions between two wooden cheeks over an axle and two iron-tired wheels, with a single stock trail that rested on the ground in firing and absorbed the recoil. The gunner laid the piece for direction by shifting the trail and for elevation by an elevating screw.

For the road the trail was raised and dropped over a limber pintle, turning carriage and limber into a four-wheeled vehicle drawn by a team. It was the standard mount of the mobile field batteries.

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