Parrott (gun)
Parrott guns (English Parrott rifle ), named after their developer Robert Parker Parrott, were muzzle loaders - artillery pieces from the time of the American Civil War . The cannon barrel was made of cast iron and was fitted with rifles , due to the high brittleness of the material, the barrel was reinforced at the rear end with a steel jacket. Parrott guns were manufactured in various sizes (caliber from 2.9 "(74 mm) to 10" (250 mm)) and were used as field guns , fortress and siege artillery, and as naval guns .
Parrott, then Superintendent of the West Point Foundry (Cold Spring, NY), built the first of the cannons named after him in 1860. In contrast to similar earlier designs, the steel jacket was applied to the barrel while it was glowing red and then by cooling the Solidified pipe. In 1861 he applied for a patent on the manufacturing principle.
During the Civil War, Parrott guns were used on both sides. On the Confederate side, an improved version was also used as the Brooke rifle (named after John Mercer Brooke ). Despite their good range and precision, the cannons had a bad reputation among gun crews because of their tendency to burst pipes.
Versions
| model | caliber | Bullet weight | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 pounder (Army) | 2.9 "(74 mm), later 3.0" (76 mm) | 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 4600 m |
| 20 pounder (Army / Navy) | 3.67 " | 19 lb (8.6 kg) | 4000 m |
| 30 pounder (Army / Navy) | 4.2 " | 29 lb (13 kg) | 6100 m |
| 60 pounder (Navy) | 5.3 " | 50 lb (23 kg) or 60 lb (27 kg) | 6800 m |
| 100 pounder (Navy) | 6.4 " | 80 lb (36 kg) or 100 lb (45 kg) | 7140 m |
| 150 pounder (Navy) | 8th" | 150 lb (68 kg) | 7300 m |
| 200 pounder (Army) | 8th" | 200 lb (91 kg) | 7300 m |
| 300 pounder (Army) | 10 " | 300 lb (140 kg) | 8200 m |
Web links
- Plan for 300 Pounder Front Pintle Carriage and Chassis by RP Parrott Original plan by Parrott for the carriage on archives.gov