Reffye 85mm cannon
Encyclopedia
The Reffye 85mm cannon was a French artillery piece of the 19th century, developed by the French artillery General Jean-Baptiste Verchère de Reffye
, superintendent of the works at Meudon
. The weapon was adopted by the French Army
from 1870. It was an 85 mm (3.35-inch) rifled breech-loading cannon, equipped with a breech screw, initially made of bronze
.
The sliding breech block, and the interrupted screw used for sealing were advanced features, but the perfect sealing of the breech would only be achieved two years later with the invention of the de Bange obturator. The cannon used shell cartridges for ammunition. It would be soon superseded by the Lahitolle 95mm cannon
(1875) and especially the De Bange 90mm cannon
(1877).
De Reffye also developed the Reffye 75mm cannon
in 1873.
De Reffye also developed in 1866 a mitrailleuse
(named "Canon à balles"), one of the best early machine guns, which was used during the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870.
Jean-Baptiste Verchère de Reffye
Jean-Baptiste Verchère de Reffye was a French artillery general of the 19th century, and superintendent of the works at Meudon. He was a former ordnance officer for Napoleon III...
, superintendent of the works at Meudon
Meudon
Meudon is a municipality in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is in the département of Hauts-de-Seine. It is located from the center of Paris.-Geography:...
. The weapon was adopted by the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
from 1870. It was an 85 mm (3.35-inch) rifled breech-loading cannon, equipped with a breech screw, initially made of bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
.
Lahitolle 95mm cannon
The Lahitolle 95 mm cannon was a French cannon of the 19th century, developed in 1875 by the artillery commander de Lahitolle. The Lahitolle 90 mm was the first French field cannon made of steel, and one of the first to be equipped with a screw breech...
(1875) and especially the De Bange 90mm cannon
De Bange 90mm cannon
The De Bange 90 mm cannon was a type of field artillery piece developed in France by Colonel Charles Ragon de Bange in 1877, and adopted by the French Army that same year...
(1877).
De Reffye also developed the Reffye 75mm cannon
Reffye 75mm cannon
The Reffye 75mm cannon was a French artillery piece of the 19th century, developed by the French artillery General Jean-Baptiste Verchère de Reffye, superintendent of the works at Meudon. The weapon was adopted by the French Army from 1873...
in 1873.
De Reffye also developed in 1866 a mitrailleuse
Mitrailleuse
Mitrailleuse is the French word used to describe all rapid-firing weapons of rifle caliber. Therefore the word mitrailleuse, when used in the French language, applies to all machine guns including modern full automatic weapons. However in the English language the word mitrailleuse applies to...
(named "Canon à balles"), one of the best early machine guns, which was used during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870.