Question about calander photos

[subdjoe]

I just now got around to looking at the enlarged photos.  The one identified as a Confederate Iron Napoleon - isn't that a Parrott?  Tapered tube, no muzzle swell, looks like a reinforce at the breech. 

[Double D]

The question was asked and answered some time ago.

The South was short of bronze.  To make Napoleons out of iron and keep the weight down they banded them.  Iron Napoleons and bronze Napoleons weigh about the same at just over 1300 lbs.  There were 120 Tredegar Iron Napoleons like this one built in the last 12 months of the war.  There are nine known to exist.   

[Terry C.]

Also, the Confederate iron Napoleon did not have a muzzle swell.

[Artilleryman]

In all fairness the 20 pdr Parrott looks similar.

[subdjoe]

Thank you, gentlemen.  I had been under the impression, just from written descriptions, that the reinforce was more blended and that there was little or no taper.  That is what I get for trusting memory and not digging for images.

But, effectively, it was an unrifled Parrott with a 4.62 bore. 

[Max Caliber]

Somewhere in the distant past, I recall reading a report where an artillery officer stated that cannon crews liked the new iron Napoleons because they did not cause the cannoneers to bleed from the ears when fired like the bronze Napoleons did.

[Zulu]

One time at a re-enactment, I shot my Parrott next to an original bronze Napoleon 12 pounder.  It was 20 feet away and shooting 2 lb. charges.  The foil wrapped round looked like a loaf of bread.  We found ourselves paying more attention to the Napoleon than the battle so we could cover our ears before he shot it.  I truely believe it could make your ears bleed.
Zulu

[Artilleryman]

Somewhere in the distant past, I recall reading a report where an artillery officer stated that cannon crews liked the new iron Napoleons because they did not cause the cannoneers to bleed from the ears when fired like the bronze Napoleons did.

In smoothbores the ball bounces three times in the bore on its' way out.  The bronze rings like a bell, the iron doesn't.  It was the ringing sound that caused the cannoneers discomfort.  The report otherwise would be the same.

[subdjoe]

In smoothbores the ball bounces three times in the bore on its' way out.  The bronze rings like a bell, the iron doesn't.  It was the ringing sound that caused the cannoneers discomfort.  The report otherwise would be the same.

OK...three times?  Not two,not four, but three?  (no Holy Hand Grenade jokes!)  I have to ask who came up with that, how they came up with it, and what is it that causes it to bounce three times.  

(hey, Phred!  Put your head on the tube and tell us how many times you hear the ball bounce when we fire!  Here, I'll hold your beer for you.)

[moose53]

When I shot ball bearings out of my smooth bore , you could look down the barrel and count the divits in the bore from the ball bouncing . Had to rebore my cannon . Was not using sabots , will use them in the future.

[Artilleryman]

In smoothbores the ball bounces three times in the bore on its' way out.  The bronze rings like a bell, the iron doesn't.  It was the ringing sound that caused the cannoneers discomfort.  The report otherwise would be the same.

OK...three times?  Not two,not four, but three?  (no Holy Hand Grenade jokes!)  I have to ask who came up with that, how they came up with it, and what is it that causes it to bounce three times.  

(hey, Phred!  Put your head on the tube and tell us how many times you hear the ball bounce when we fire!  Here, I'll hold your beer for you.)

The information about this can be found in John Gibbon's "The Artillerist's Manual" pages 75-76.  As Moose observed the damage to his bore, the Manual discusses this damage and how to extend the life of the barrel.  No joking, it is an interesting read.

[Double D]

The Artillerist's  Manual

[subdjoe]

Thanks for the reference and the link, gentlemen.  I didn't think it was a joke - mostly wondering the how and why of Three.  (the number of bounces shall be three, and three shall be the number of the bounces, no more, no less)

Off to read it now.  Or just plain off. 

[Artilleryman]

In the reference it says "generally three" which I believe would be due to the length of the bore.