100-pound breech-loaded naval cannon
- 100-pound breech-loaded naval cannon
The 100-pound breech-loader was a large calibre naval gun the was developed through a prolonged trial process undertaken by and on behalf of the armament company run by Sir William Armstrong.
Development
Prior to 1859, all naval ordnance had been of the smoothbore muzzle-loading variety. In January 1859 the first breech-loading rifled gun produced by the Armstrong company was tested. It fired a shell weighing 40 pounds, and it was tested against armour plate of 4-inch thickness, which it was confidently expected to penetrate. The disturbing result was that wrought-iron, cast-iron and steel shot, fired with 6-pound charges and at ranges from 450 yards down to 50 yards had no serious penetrative effect on the armour.
In September 1869 the second Armstrong breech loader, designated the "special gun of large calibre" and designed as an armour-piercing weapon, was tested against the same target of 4-inch armour. This gun was of 6-inch calibre, weighed 65 hundredweight, and fired a shell which was always called a "100-pounder" but which weighed 110 pounds with a charge of 12 pounds of gunpowder. Twenty-two rounds were fired at ranges between 400 yards and 50 yards, without achieving a penetration of the armour.
Notwithstanding the results of these tests, it was selected as the main armament for the first british ironclads HMS "Warrior" and HMS "Black Prince". Re-evaluation of these test results led, however, to a revision of the armament of these ironclads to a preponderance of 68-pounder smoothbore cannon, which had been shown to have a better armour-piercing ability than had the Armstrongs. In the early 1860s, all Armstrong 100-pounder breech-loaders on British warships were replaced with muzzle-loading rifles of various calibres.
ee also
* Armstrong Gun
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Cannon operation — required specialised crew and gunners, who were first enlisted by the Spanish in the 14th century.Hoffmeyer, p. 217.] The nature of cannon operation often depended on the size of the cannon and whether they were breech loading or muzzle loading.… … Wikipedia
naval ship — Introduction the chief instrument by which a nation extends its military power onto the seas. Warships protect the movement over water of military forces to coastal areas where they may be landed and used against enemy forces; warships… … Universalium
Armstrong Gun — The Armstrong Gun is a type of large rifled gun first manufactured in England in 1855. It was designed by Sir William Armstrong and manufactured by the Elswick Ordnance Company and the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich.HistoryIn 1854 Armstrong approached … Wikipedia
Field artillery in the American Civil War — M1857 Napoleon at Stones River battlefield cemetery. Field artillery in the American Civil War refers to the important artillery weapons, equipment, and practices used by the Artillery branch to support the infantry and cavalry forces in the… … Wikipedia
Dahlgren gun — John A. Dahlgren standing next to a 50 pounder Dahlgren Rifle aboard the U.S.S. Pawnee, 1865 … Wikipedia
Columbiad — Ten inch Confederate Columbiad at Fort Donelson National Battlefield The Columbiad was a large caliber, smoothbore, muzzle loading cannon able to fire heavy projectiles at both high and low trajectories.[1] This feature enab … Wikipedia
military technology — Introduction range of weapons, equipment, structures, and vehicles used specifically for the purpose of fighting. It includes the knowledge required to construct such technology, to employ it in combat, and to repair and replenish it.… … Universalium
MythBusters (2009 season) — Country of origin Australia United States No. of episodes 23 (includes 3 specials) Broadcast Original channel … Wikipedia
Artillery — For other uses of the term, see Artillery (disambiguation). Warfare Military history Eras Prehistoric Ancient … Wikipedia
North Carolina-class battleship — North Carolina steaming on 3 June 1946. By this time, many of the light anti aircraft weapons (Bofors 40 mm and Oerlikon 20 mm) mounted during the war had been removed, while more modern radars had been mounted on her forefunnel and mainmast … Wikipedia
