Underwater Cannons

[Cat Whisperer]

I first read about these back when I was in H.S. (1960's early) in a Scientific American review of the concept - on microfilm from the 1860's.

Check this out!

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/COMMS/underwtrgun/underwtrgun.htm

[GGaskill]

I would think there would be chamber pressure problems as the weight of the water filling the barrel would also have to be expelled.  If they could keep the barrel dry until the shot was fired, there might have been a chance of this working as the shot would have been at maximum velocity and the powder wouldn't have had the weight of the water to move.  But the range would have had to be very short.

[Cat Whisperer]

Here are some details of ROBERT FULTON's experiments way back when.  Some of his methods of handling the issues you mention.

http://militaryhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/robert_fultons_exotic_weapon_experiments_tests

[seacoastartillery]

     If someone wants to read more about this subject there is a little about Confederate experiments along these lines in Ironclads and Big Guns of the Confederacy:  the Journal and Letters of John M. Brooke by George M. Brooke.  If I remember correctly the engineer in charge of these efforts fired from a dry tube, which is the only way that makes sense to Mike and I.  We believe the range possible was very short, in the area of 30 to 50 feet, but the way those early ironclads fought, that distance could have been sufficient for a hit to occur.
Used copies of that book are available for about $15.00.

Thanks Tim!

Tracy and Mike

[RocklockI]

It looks like a great idea !



For the North !

[Cat Whisperer]

Another reference: http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/fulton.html

Looks like Fulton did a lot of his work at the very beginning of the 19h century!  (He died in 1814.)

[Cat Whisperer]

and another reference listing his notes on experiments:

http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/thurston/fulton/chapter5.html

Note the reference to the tin tube going down to the cannon 4' under water!

[cannonmn]

I just got done going over the Army's Invention files from about 1821-1870 and there must have been at least a few dozen letters from inventors proposing "submarine guns," which they seem to have been called by the Army.  I suspect you'll find some patents on them also.

[Cat Whisperer]

Some of the articles referred to Fulton's patents.  Stands to reason that he'd be not the ONLY one to patent such a device.

I wonder about other countries.

[Cat Whisperer]

...
 I suspect you'll find some patents on them also.

Hadn't thougth of searching including 'patent'.  That yielded this:

http://www.navyandmarine.org/alligator/Eakins.htm

and likely more.