Page 203 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

201

Side-mounted ramrod CARR
Iron swivel post Ramrod
Trigger guard
▲ FLINTLOCK Loaded and fired in the ONADES
Striking steel Seven barrels SWIVEL GUN same way as a musket or
brazed together Date c.1800 pistol, this gun was fired
at enemy ships prior to a
Origin UK boarding attempt. Because
Weight 15lb (6.8kg) it could be swiveled, the
Barrel 24in (61cm) gun—moving from side AND O
to side—had a wide arc
Caliber 28mm
Ramrod of fire.
Lock plate
▲ NOCK VOLLEY GUN A version of this seven-barreled ▼ CONGREVE ROCKETS William Congreve’s rockets were
Date 1795 volley gun was used by the British Date 1805 propelled by black powder and
Royal Navy in close-range fighting could be fitted with incendiary or
Origin England when boarding a ship or attempting Origin UK shrapnel heads weighing 3–24lb
Weight 9lb (4.1kg) to repel enemy boarders. The central Weight 32lb (14.5kg) (1.4–10.9kg). Their accuracy could
1
1
Barrel 20 ⁄2in (52cm) barrel fired normally, and the other Length 3 ⁄4ft (1.03m) be poor and they were prone to THER NA V AL GUNS
six were set off by the detonation exploding prematurely.
Caliber .39in
of its charge.

Cock
Arrow shaft
Striking steel

Trunnion Rocket head

Steadying
handle

Muzzle
▲ FRENCH NAVAL Flintlock guns were unreliable
SWIVEL GUN weapons at sea because they were
Date 1812 liable to misfire in bad weather. This Muzzle Raised sight
bronze gun was marked with its place
Origin France and date of manufacture: the armory
Barrel 33in (84cm) of Toulon, France, 1812. The yoke or
Caliber 75-bore swivel post on which the gun rested
would have been attached to the
small trunnions on the barrel.

Fluted “cascabel” fixing point for ▶ CAST-IRON
ropes to secure the gun when firing CARRONADE
Date 1808
Curved handle Origin Scotland
Weight 1,481lb (671.7kg)
Length 3 ⁄2ft (1.1m)
1
Caliber 14.5cm
This 24-pounder carronade was
made with a raised sight in the
reinforce ring and a recess in
the muzzle ring for a removable
sight. The muzzle was recessed
for easy loading.

Platform carriage