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Author Topic: Petard  (Read 765 times)

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Offline Squire Robin

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Petard
« on: October 28, 2005, 04:04:13 AM »
They used a blank load when they ran a cannon up against the fortress gates as a petard. No ball because it was supposed to push them open rather than simply knock a hole.

I seem to remember the load was considerably more than 3 ounces per inch :-D

best regards

Squire Robin
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Petard
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2005, 12:29:35 PM »
Quote from: Squire Robin
They used a blank load when they ran a cannon up against the fortress gates as a petard. No ball because it was supposed to push them open rather than simply knock a hole.

I seem to remember the load was considerably more than 3 ounces per inch :-D

best regards

Squire Robin


Not having used a Petard, and it's been quite some time since I've seen a pen-and-ink drawing of one, were the bores of the petard much different from those that launched cannon balls?  That is, diameter to length, powder chamber etc.  Were some designs more effective?
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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline Squire Robin

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Petard
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2005, 01:06:23 PM »
Hi CW

I think the original Petard was a simple iron pot full of powder that was nailed to the gate that was to be opened, pointing inwards.

I got the cannon notion from a Bernard Cornwell/Shape book my wife bought me for CHRISTmas a few years back. He described using a cannon to open a fort gates and mentioned that someone wrote a description of the best cannon load for that very purpose. If I could find the book I wouldn't be so vague :?

best regards

Squire Robin
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Offline GGaskill

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Petard
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2005, 02:28:53 PM »


From wikipedia.
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Petard
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2005, 03:01:17 PM »
Yes!  Interesting drawing.

Of note the centrally located fuse, bell shaped casting (with re-enforcements) and carrying handles.

Why the square board?
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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline GGaskill

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Petard
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2005, 03:32:07 PM »
The board is to broaden the spot of application of the force to improve the probability of blowing the door open rather than blowing a hole in the door.
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Offline Squire Robin

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Petard
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2005, 10:00:51 PM »
Quote from: GGaskill
The board is to broaden the spot of application of the force to improve the probability of blowing the door open rather than blowing a hole in the door.


It would also appear to keep the powder in when you nail the petard to it.

What a wonderful picture. I think I would have volunteered to light the petard, but only because I'll volunteer to light anything :shock:

OTOH, this could be expensive, I shall probably now buy a lump of antique farmyard junk, a cream separarator or something like that, thinking I have discovered a long lost Petard :-D

Thanks for sharing

best regards

Squire Robin
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Petard
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2005, 01:16:47 AM »
I wonder how well they were built.

That is, if it didn't rupture the door, could it be retrieved and used again.

If it did work, how often would it be that it would be needed?  How many castles does one attack in  a career?  Would anyone have set it aside to be used next year ;and therefore is there one sitting around now in a museum?

If the door was really big and the petard used often; would it withstand multiple firings - I wouldn't want to be the one lighting the fuse - even if it had worked the previous 10 times.
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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline GGaskill

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Petard
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2005, 09:06:49 AM »
The worst part of the exercise was hanging it as the castle defenders were undoubtedly making things difficult.
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Offline Santa Dave

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Petard
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2005, 09:41:23 AM »
Probably best NOT to build one,.
A . if you did where would you find a castle gate?
B . you would likely be hoist on it. :lol:
Santa Dave
But If you do---- I wanna see it work!!
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