Jlchucker and Boom J., I hope I'm not stealing someone's thunder here, but I thought I would post a few pictures of some Norwich cannon after I finally found them. John, you will have the Lion's share of the credit for N.U. cannon if you can find out where they keep the two James rifles and get a few pics of them and the Gatling gun too. Be sure to check the main entrance to Jackman Hall also. During my years as a cadet, 1965 to 1969, the university had an 1841 6Pdr. in the foyer just beyond the main entrance door. They also had, during those years, one or two 1857 Napoleon Gun-Howitzers, probably loaned to the university. They had, very briefly, a 20mm Lahti anti-tank gun with 3 rounds of live ammo. The owner's son (a Cadet) and I went out with that gun, south of the Dog River, to an old race track that had a 1940s gasoline tanker in the infield. We nailed it from back to front at about 100 yards with armor piercing rounds. They all went clean through until they were stopped by the engine block. Those skids on that cannon don't stop much recoil when they sit on snow!! Ouch.
Be sure to ask if they still have the two-barrel Gardiner Gun that was pulled out of the basement of Dewey Hall when they were excavating for the university's first computer training center in 1967 or '68. The Gatling Gun was unearthed at about the same time as I recall. I only saw the Gardiner Gun, not the Gatling. Also outside of Dewey hall, on the south-west corner, is the 47mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon. The only other cannons that I am aware of were the two 24 Pdr. Coehorn Mortars on top of opposite, masonry, Gate Posts at the East Entrance. In 2007, they were in crates in the Museum's "back room", or so Mike and I were told. I think the new landscaping did away with the main Gate off Route 12, so they could be on display anywhere or maybe in the museum. The only other cannons on the campus are the 75mm howitzer or 76mm High Velocity Gun on the Sherman Tank at the east end of the football field. Also they have a few Abram's tanks (Functional) on campus as part of a Vermont National Guard facility with their Hyper-velocity, 120mm, Rhinemetal, smooth bore guns (approx. 5,700 f.p.s. vel.).
Tracy
There are 3 of these Armstrong-Whitworth rifles on N.U.'s campus. Two, like the one shown, were emplaced in front of Goodyear Hall where I practiced close-order drill on the upper parade ground, in front of them, as a freshman, in 1965. In the spring of 1966, some wise guy muzzle loaded an M-80 and a full can of Coke down the gun that had it's breech block welded shut. That gun covered Patterson Hall and some guy leaning out of a second story window was yelling at the gunner. It was close; the yelling guy was almost hit as the Soda can impacted the bricks 6" from the open window! Finals Week was always crazy, but it was great having a ring-side seat in my room which faced the upper parade at ground level, right behind the "active", 1899, rapid-fire gun. Those two were moved to Plumley Armory sometime after I graduated.
Mike studies the third of these cannons which is still on the upper parade in front of Jackman Hall, the administration building. It is the so-called 'saluting gun'. The breech block (with a 10 Ga. BP Blank adapter) was stored in the arms-room in Jackman Hall in the 60s and taken out only at the end of each day for an evening salute.
I think R.F. means rapid fire, but maybe someone knows for sure. Interesting that it's not Q.F. for quick fire which was quite common back then.
Interesting carriage.
I like this view. Do you see the elevation gear? Bronze handled crank to a worm gear set to a pinion gear shaft to a pinion gear to a curved rack pinned to the breech bottom.
Curiously, this piece is positioned so it's 'Plane of Fire' just about bisects my freshman room just to the left of Goodyear Hall's front door. As I sighted down that long, slender, tapered tube in 2007, I wondered if a full can of Coke in front of a 10 Ga. blank would make it to my old room at the far end of the parade. Do you see those majestic maples behind the old Infantryman? Those trees were mere saplings when I started at Norwich in 1965.
Mike inspects the 47mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon at the south west corner of Dewey Hall. Admiral Dewey was a Norwich cadet for two years who transferred to the U.S Naval Academy and went on to fame in the U.S. Navy. On 1 May 1898 his U.S. fleet defeated the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the Philippine Islands at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
The business end of this cannon 47mm, (1.85" Cal.) which was mounted on many U.S. warships of that era.
Most of the markings are in this area. They read: U.S.N, 47mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon, No. 22, N.S, Wt. 1385 LBS., 1898
