How Does a Cannon Work?
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How Does A Cannon Work? Tube Chassis Cascabel Muzzle Vent Trunnions Breech Carriage The tube rested on the carriage, supporting it for firing and controlling recoil (energy re- People have been fascinated These guns are muzzle-loaders. leased when the gun fired). The with guns since the invention of Everything entered and left them tube and carriage rested on a artillery during the Middle Ages. through the muzzle. Most were chassis. A chassis permitted the This basic guide explains how a made of cast iron. They consist movement of the cannon left or 19th Century seacoast cannon of three basic components: the right, forward or back to aim, operated, and the types of tube, the carriage, and the load, and fire. All together, this projectiles that were used. chassis. weapon was called a “piece.” Smoothbore Cannon Smoothbore guns typically fired shot,” used for setting fires. similar to shells, but also con spherical projectiles; the classic tained shrapnel (small iron or round cannonball. Ammunition Shells were hollow with a charge lead balls). These were anti consisted of five kinds: solid shot, of gunpowder inside. The personnel rounds, timed to shell, case shot, canister, and powder was ignited by a timed explode in front of the target. grape shot. fuse which lit when the gun fired. Shells were used to set fires and Canister and grape shot turned a Solid shot were used for punctur as signal shots. cannon into a shotgun, killing ing walls and decks of ships. men and destroying objects. When heated, they became “hot A third type, case shot, were Shot Shell Case Shot Canister Stand of Grape Rifled Cannon Rifled cannon fired cylindrical, accuracy and range. Rifled bullet-shaped projectiles. Rifling shells were used, for example, to was a process where the gun's burrow into a brick wall, then bore was cut with spiraling explode, causing much more grooves. This spun the projectile damage than a simple solid shot. as it was fired, adding great Rifled Projectile Load .... The process of loading and firing bore. The sponge-head was type of projectile. Then the began with the cannon “out of covered with wool, and dipped in cartridge was rammed to the battery,” meaning that the tube water. The sponge was driven to breach with a rammer (much like and carriage would be as far the bottom of the bore, turned the sponge). back on the chassis as possible. three times each way, and Up to eight artillerists made up a withdrawn. Spherical shot, shell and case gun crew. shot were strapped to a sabot, a The next step was to insert a wooden block recessed to fit the The first order of business was to cartridge. This was simply a bag projectile. The sabot kept the extinguish any sparks remaining of black powder (gunpowder). projectile stable while in the tube, in the bore after the last firing. The bag was commonly made and protected the fuses of shell This was done with a sponge, a from wool, flannel, or paper. The and case shot. The projectile long wooden pole with a head amount of powder varied with the and sabot were inserted in the about one inch smaller than the gun’s size, range of target, and bore and rammed home. ... Ready ... On top of the tube, at the rear of elevation for the range of the inserted in the vent. The long end the gun, a small hole called a target. of the primer made contact with vent opens into the gun’s bore. A the exposed powder in the priming wire (much like an ice A friction primer was the trigger. cartridge. The lanyard was pick) was driven into the vent and The primer consisted of two uncoiled and pulled taut. withdrawn, puncturing the brass tubes joined with a ser cartridge and exposing some rated wire key. Surrounding the powder. The cannon was run key in the short tube was a forward until the tube and car sparking compound, like the riage rested on the front end of substance on a match tip. The the chassis, "in battery." long tube was filled with gun Friction powder. The end of the wire key Primer Traversing, or aiming, the piece was looped in a circle. A hook, was done by moving the chassis tied to a lanyard (a long sturdy right or left. A breech sight was string), was inserted in this loop. Image courtesy of Warren Ripley used to give the cannon proper Next the friction primer was ... Fire ! The final step was performed primer tube. The resulting the carriage and tube to a stop, upon this command. The lanyard explosion ignited the cartridge, once again resting at the rear of was pulled, ripping the wire key and the cannon fired. Recoil the chassis. out of the primer. This friction automatically rolled the cannon Then the tube was sponged... ignited the powder inside the out of battery. Friction brought Guns like the Colombiads at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie could be fired on average once every five minutes. The Modern Era By the turn of the century, the greater range and accuracy, and United States had upgraded were more efficient than their coastal defense with breech predecessors. The age of the old loading steel guns. These guns iron muzzle-loader was at an were easier to load, had far end. For Your Safety Today, these guns are artifacts, mounts. For your safety no preserved for all to enjoy. They climbing is permitted on the guns, are displayed, wherever possible, their carriages, or mounts. in their original style settings and Fort Moultrie is a part of Fort and natural resources. For Sumter National Monument, a additional information write to the unit of the National Park System. Superintendent, Fort Sumter The National Park Service is National Monument, 1214 Middle dedicated to preserving our Street, Sullivan's Island, South nation's heritage through cultural Carolina, 29482. .