Color of Mecklenburg Schwerin Gun Carriages 1813-14

[Terry37]

I have been trying to find the correct color for the gun carriages used by the Mecklenburg Schwerin artillery in 1813-14 when serving in the allied army opposed to the French. I found a less than specific note saying they were dark gray with black metal fittings, and in the few color plates I have they show more of a medium blue like the Prussians. Does anybody know what the correct color would be?

They also had 2 Swedish guns in their Artillery, so considering these I tried to find the proper color for Swedish gun carriages. The one chart I have says they were "green-blue", so I looked this color up and it shows everything from turquoise to a celadon green. Anybody have a solid recommendation on these gun carriages as well?

Thanks,

Terry

[sultanbev]

Regarding Swedish artillery, Rawkins tells us that Swedish artillery was grey until 1808, then a bright light blue. All metal work was blackened iron and brass.
Here is a museum representation of that later colour

[Jemima Fawr]

Sorry I can't help with Mecklenburg artillery, but re the Swedes:  Rawkins said blue-green in an earlier edition of his Swedish Army booklet (later corrected) and that seems to have carried over into various later internet discussions.  However, as Sultanbev says, the Swedish Army Museum reckons their guns were painted light blue at Leipzig in 1813, so that's good enough for me.  There are also surviving guns from the SYW painted light blue and there's a painting from 1825 showing them still in that colour, so they seem to have used light blue fairly consistently (I wonder if 'grey' is a mis-interpretation of ancient paint and there is still some discussion as to the metal/paint colour of fittings).

[Terry37]

Thank you very much for your help gentlemen!!! Very much appreciated. I am putting together the necessary figures for a Mecklenburg Brigade as part of my Wallmonden's Corps project. Guess it will be the 2 Swedish guns listed in their arsenal.

Terry

[sultanbev]

As regard Mecklenburg Schwerin, this very useful site for 1866
https://www.hmwrs.com/WhoUsedWhat.htm#MecklenburgSchwerin

shows them using a light-grey-blue (with low confidence) for limbers. As a general rule nations didn't seem to change gun colours much during the 19th century, so I would go with that unless firmer data is found.

[Dave pen]

For the schleswig holstein war of 1848 the following colours were used

Denmark: Artillery system 1834 Woodwork: Dark green. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Black iron
Schleswig-Holstein: Danish system 1834 Woodwork: Dark green. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Black iron
Prussia: Artillery system 1842 Woodwork: Light blue. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Brass
Mecklenburg: Prussian system 1842 Woodwork: Dark grey. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Brass
Oldenburg: Saxon system 1821 Woodwork: Light blue. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Brass
Saxon: System 1840 Woodwork: Dark grey/green. Fittings: Yellow. Barrels: Brass
Bavaria: System 1841 Woodwork: Greyish/Light blue. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Brass
Hanoverian: English system 1820 Woodwork: Blue/Grey. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Brass
Brunswick: English system 1820 Woodwork: Light blue. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Brass
Nassau: English system 1820 Woodwork: Light blue. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Brass
Hessian: English system 1820/28 Woodwork: Light blue. Fittings: Black. Barrels: Brass

I hope this helps

[Pancratist]

Hi,

I only have information about the Swedish stuff unfortunately, and that has largely been answered already.

As said above, Swedish artillery generally was painted a rather light blue with black metal fittings etc. The thing about grey seems to be a mistake. Swedish artillery was however painted blue with yellow metal fittings in an earlier period, although I would suspect that by 1813 the guns used would have been the model 1804 6-pounder, which seems to have been a rather efficient and light gun, which was probably available in some numbers by that time. That would definitely have been blue-black.

I dont know what information you have, but if it seems that the guns in question were obsolete Swedish guns (perhaps once replaced by the new 6-pounders in the Swedish army itself), it may possibly be that they could be painted blue and yellow.

Ive attached images of an older gun and a m/1804 carriage.

[Jemima Fawr]

It's also possible that they might be 'Swedish' 4-pounders, as used by France and a number of other armies through the 18th Century?  I.e. 'Swedish-style', but not actually Swedish.