Napoleonic Trivia #108 (1 Viewer)

[Grognard]

One carriage used by the Napoleonic army for a while was literally called "the sausage". What were the exact name, purpose and inventor of this interesting mean of transportation?

 

[Obee]

One carriage used by the Napoleonic army for a while was literally called "the sausage". What were the exact name, purpose and inventor of this interesting mean of transportation?

That was the "Wurst" and was used by the medical service to transport personnel and equipment onto the battlefield. It was invented by Baron Larrey.

Here is mine, made by French maker MHSP that I painted.

Other makers are HISTOREX and CBG Mignot



Baron Larrey by Hachette



John

 

[Grognard]

That was the "Wurst" and was used by the medical service to transport personnel and equipment onto the battlefield. It was invented by Baron Larrey.

Here is mine, made by French maker MHSP that I painted.

Other makers are HISTOREX and CBG Mignot

View attachment 187638

Baron Larrey by Hachette

View attachment 187639

John

John, you have only part of the answer right but I will give you this one :wink2:. This interesting padded carriage shaped like a sausage was indeed called the Wurst (or sausage in German) and was designed to transport quickly medical staff to the battle field instead of having them run and arrive exhausted. However the inventor was not Larrey (Chief surgeon of the Imperial Guard) who created the battle field ambulance service but Percy (Chief surgeon of the Grande Armée). The Wurst didn't see much success beyond the initial interest...