Page 180 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

178 FIELD AND SIEGE ARTILLERY ▶ GUNNER’S CALLIPERS

ONET 1680–1815 Through the 17th and 18th centuries, artillerymen continued Origin England Table of
Date 18th century

to use smoothbore cast-bronze and cast-iron firing stone or cast-iron
Callipers were used to measure
the diameter of the cannonball.
shot. The next breakthrough in artillery design came in the mid-19th
When the two arms were crossed
century with the development of rifled cannon, improved gunpowder,
useful data
over, they could also make internal
elongated projectiles, and special instruments. While guns fired in
measurements, such as that of the
cannon’s bore.
a level trajectory, the lighter, short-barreled mortar was used to fire
hand mortars were also developed for firing fuzed grenades. These
are often named after the Dutch military engineer Menno, baron
Y in an elevated trajectory—generally more than 45 degrees. Smaller Calibration
AND BA Narrow Cross-guard Steel blade
van Coehoorn, who developed a design for this weapon.
blade
FLINTLOCK ▲ GUNNER’S STILETTO Artillerymen used this specialized Guilded grip ▲ GUNNER’S DIVIDERS Dividers were used with a rule

dagger for measuring the bore of the
Date 18th century
gun and the size of the shot. It could
Origin Italy
also be used for self-defence in close-
1
Weight 5 ⁄2oz (150g)
quarters combat.
Length 13 ⁄2in (34cm)
Date 18th century
1
proportions of fortifications.
Origin England to perform calculations on the Brass bed
This steel pair has a cross-guard,
Length 17 ⁄4in (44cm) indicating they could also be used
1
as a dagger if the artillery position
came under attack.
Band of flowers and
leaves alongside trunnion

▲ INDIAN 6-POUNDER The bore of this gun is sleeved with ▼ BRONZE THREE- Three barrels, two side by side
Date 1693–1743 an iron tube made from parallel strips BARRELED GUN with the third above, were cast in
welded together. This made the gun one piece and could be fired one
Origin India Date 1704
and the bore more durable, especially at a time or simultaneously. The
Weight 3.7 tons (3.4 tonnes) when the gun was used to fire stone shot. Origin France intriguing design did not prove
1
Length 12 ⁄2ft (3.86m) Weight 1,996lb (905kg) successful in practice, because
1
Caliber 9.5cm Length 5 ⁄4ft (1.62m) the gun was difficult to reload
Caliber 11.5cm and very heavy to maneuver.
Third barrel
sits on top of
Monogram of the other two
King George I

Trunnion

◀ COEHOORN MORTAR The Coehoorn mortar was a small,
Date c.1720 portable mortar used to despatch
grenades. Swiss-born Andrew Schalch,
Origin England first Master Founder of the Royal Brass
Weight 86lb (39kg) Foundry at Woolwich in England, cast
Length 12 ⁄2in (32cm) this one. It is mounted on its original
1
wooden bed, which is just 12in (30cm)
Caliber 4.5in
wide and 20in (51cm) long.