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32 Pounder naval cannon.

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  • Member since
    November 2005
32 Pounder naval cannon.
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 5:09 PM
I have Harold Underhill's plan of a 32 pounder cannon, it doesn't have a ring(or part of) moulded onto the cascabel for a breeching rope to pass through. I can't find any info on this. I checked HMS Victory site but the cannon have this ring. How was the breeching rope attatched to cascabel? Also I have some info on types of shot, powder carriers etc:, but don't have any plans or dimensions. I would be grateful for any help/info on this. Many thanks, John.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Monterey Bay, CA
Posted by schoonerbumm on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 9:24 PM
Hi John,

The guns with the cascabel ring are the Blomefield pattern guns introduced in the 1790s. Captain Thomas Blomefield was a Royal Artillery officer who redesigned British guns so they could use newly the improved "cylinder powder" developed by the English in the 1780's. The new powder apparently increased chamber pressures, bursting "old pattern" guns during testing.

The new Blomefield guns had the obvious cascabel ring, thicker breeches and thinner chases (the barrel forward of the trunnion). This gave a stronger gun without an increase in weight. Decorative elements were removed from the Blomefield pattern ordnance.

The Blomefield pattern was the standard Royal Navy weapon during the French Revolutionary and Napoleanic conflicts. If you are modeling the Victory at Trafalgar, this is the correct configuration.

For the 32 pdr., a breeching rope, of 7 inch circumference (2 1/4 inch dia), was simply threaded through the cascable ring, without any seizing at the breech. 5 1/2 inch (1 3/4 dia.) rope was used for 12 and 18 pdrs.

For English ships modeled prior to ~1795, use the old spherical cascabel button.

The gun equipment would be the same as for the prior decades. The different types of powder were differentiated by lettering colors (red - cylinder powder, blue - ordinary powder, and white for recycled powder). The cylinder powder was reserved for longer range work, where combustion consistency was required for accuracy.

Just one more technological advantage over the French and Spanish.

If you are seriously interested in this period, I would recommend getting Brian Lavery's "The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War, 1600-1815". Search on www.addall.com. (reference for the above info) Goes for $40.00 to $60.00.

If you are seriously interested in this period and have stock options maturing soon or a wealthy relative in the comfort care ward, I'd recommend Jean Boudriot's "The 74 Gun Ship". Goes for about 10X Lavery, but is worth it.

Good luck on your project,

Alan

Alan

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Benjamin Franklin

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 17, 2005 8:09 AM
But to answer your question, John, the breeching rope was looped or knotted (depending upon the diameter of the rope) around the "button" on the cascabel. A somewhat less reliable means of stopping the cannon from exiting the ship through the bulwark on the opposite side upon recoil but better than nothing. A number of contemporary illustrations of 16th and 17th century ships will show this method. I expect Mr Tilley will shed more light on this.
Best,
Ron
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Monterey Bay, CA
Posted by schoonerbumm on Thursday, February 17, 2005 11:39 AM
As Ron says, for attaching the rope to the casacabel, the breech rope was wrapped around the the button. The drawings I have seen indicate that the right lead (looking forward) was aft in the wrap. I don't know if that was a convention or everyone is copying the same drawing. I have not yet found any seizing details... Dr. Tilley?

During the second second half of the 18th century, a practice that came into general use was to slip the cascabel button through a cut splice, made in the center of the breech rope.

Regards,

Alan

Alan

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Benjamin Franklin

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Thursday, February 17, 2005 3:38 PM
What was the bore diameter of a 32 pounder?

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Monterey Bay, CA
Posted by schoonerbumm on Thursday, February 17, 2005 9:52 PM
32 6.41
24 5.823
18 5.292
12 4.623
9 4.2
6 3.668

Alan

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Benjamin Franklin

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Friday, February 18, 2005 12:27 AM
Actually Mr. Tilley has absolutely nothing to add. The information provided above is most interesting and, so far as I know, completely reliable. Fascinating stuff.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Saturday, February 19, 2005 11:05 AM
Thanks schoonerbumm, I was tryin to figure out the shot weight of an 8 in. Dahlgren. I am going to save everyone some grief and look it up myself. It'll be good practice.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 20, 2005 4:36 PM
Thanks to all for your time and contributions. The books sound interesting. I have no relatives with a bad cough and a good bank account so I'll have to opt for the cheaper(!) book. Thanks again, John.
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