The Argentine Viejobueno 78,5 mm field gun

[Badner]

In 1880, the Arsenal de Guerra (War Arsenal) of the Argentine army at Buenos Aires, u developed a field gun designated Viejobueno, in honor of Colonel Joaquín Viejobueno, the Chief Staff of Staff of the army in the province of Buenos Aires who took part in the Conquest of the Desert during 1879., and with that position he was part of the campaign to the desert of 1879. Later, that year, the minister of war, General Julio Argentino Roca, appointed him to head a commission to study and implement the modernization of the army. that should study the modifications and modernizations that should be imposed on the army. A system or workshops were established that produced many of the army's requirements, including uniforms, footwear, transport wagons, and a few batteries of a 78,5mm compressed bronze cannon, in 78,5 mm caliber based on a Krupp model, and designated as the Viejobueno cannon. During my recent move from New Jersey to North Carolina were irretrievably lost, including several photos taken in 2005 of the sole remaining example of this rare weapon. It outperformed its European counterparts and had a range of 6.000 meters. It was supplied in limited quantities to both the army and the navy. During tests conducted at the War Arsenal, an army major, opened the breech soon after firing, the shell casing severed hone of his hands and dies as a result. This unfortunate accident, not imputable to the gun itself, cast a pall and production was discontinued.

 

[dan_inbox]

Thanks for this post.

in honor of Colonel Joaquín Viejobueno, the Chief Staff of Staff of the army in the province of Buenos Aires who took part in the Conquest of the Desert during 1879.

And thanks for this too. I had never heard of the Conquista del desierto campaign and genocide. Well worth looking up.

 

[Badner]

Thanks for this post.

in honor of Colonel Joaquín Viejobueno, the Chief Staff of Staff of the army in the province of Buenos Aires who took part in the Conquest of the Desert during 1879.

And thanks for this too. I had never heard of the Conquista del desierto campaign and genocide. Well worth looking up.Ifc

 

[Badner]

There was, indeed, genocide, but at the hands of the Araucanian Indians (or Mapuches) During the years between 1820 and 1870 they killed or captued 50.000 people (those captured were enslaved) stolen 11 million head of cattle, 5 million horses, destroyed over 3.000 houses and caried off 20 million gold pesos in in other properties. Aside from the devastation they wrought upon the land, the Mapuches created a sort-of no man's land on a vast area from the Andes to the Atlantic and settlements grew along the eastern slopes of the Andes(Argentine territory Moreover, the Indians assiduously rendezvoused from Mendoza to Neuquén. Such as the case of Malbarco, a hamlet of 600 inhabitants south of Mendoza,whose who gained possession of 15,000 head of cattle, 4.000 horses and 1,000 sheep. These Chilean squatters maintained close relations with the Indians, d sheep with Chilean traders and squatters a) These squatters also maintained close relations with the Mapuches, but also participated in their raids. The Chilean government conferred military titles and civilian offices upon Indians and rustlers, and practically all the major Indian chiefs heeded the call of Chilean authorities. Some chiefs acted as foremen of Chilean authorities who maintained stocks of stolen herds east of the Andes. An Argentine historian recalls:" that the infamous Pincheira brothers, scourges of the Pampas had received commissions in the Chilean army, The notorious Indian chief was known in Chile as Juan Agustín Terrado, a Chilean official and judge of Barranca. Chief Caepe was married to a niece of General Manuel Bulnes, once in charge of Chilean frontier forces. The administrator of his ranch was a certain chieftain called Aillal, a notorious thief, known in Chile as Francisco Palacios, while former police official known as Manuel Palacios realized huge profits from the Indian rads on the Pampas in addition, during 1857-1872, the Argentine government spent 48 million gold pesos paying these Indians a tribute (in money, goods cattle and horses) After the War with Paraguay was over, and once the last of the caudillos (provincial warlords with their own armies) had been defeated, the Argentine army began a series of retaliatory raids. Numerous encounters occurred, and by December 1878, over 4,00 Indians were captured, 400 braves killed, and 15,000 head of cattle recovered. Facing an army of 8,00 Indian warriors East of the Andes (and another 20,000 West of these mountains) General Roca led a force of 6,000 men, and reclaimed over 15,000 square kilometers, 15,000 Indians were taken captive and 1,313 braves killed.