Book

[Red Owl]

There are tons of books on small arms, etc. but does anyone know of any books that explain the development of the muzzle loading cannon? The various types of ammunition, mode of firing (fuse, etc.), various weights, accuracy, range.

 

[Coot]

Try:

Round Shot & Rammers by Harold Peterson
Guns at Sea by Peter Padfield
The Naval Gun by Hogg & Batchelor
Firearms & Fortifications by Pepper & Adams
Arming the Fleet by Tucker

They should give you a few nights reading.

 

[Red Owl]

Thanks. Right now I have a book on Napoleon. He rose through the ranks as an artillery officer and artillery was a very important part of any army. I want to learn more.

 

[Red Owl]

Update on the Napoleon Book. There were cannons and howitzers. I didn't realize they were different and the howitzer had a shorter barrel and was aimed higher- sort of half way between a cannon and mortar. No rifled cannons at that time. I know there were wood sabots used but I don't know why. There were fuses, a quill filled fill powder. By the American Civil War, a devise you pulled to create sparks and fire the cannon. There were horse artillery units- not sure how they differed.

 

[Youngblood]

What makes a Howitzer a Howitzer is the necked down/reduced size chamber compared to the rest of the tube. It allows for a much lighter barrel.
See here-

 

[Youngblood]

The wood sabot on howitzers is for the transitional space between the larger barrel tube and the smaller chamber but straight tube cannons used them too. They were the connection point between the powder bag and the projectile.
Seen here-

 

[Red Owl]

Thanks, very interesting information.

 

[broadarrow]

Hi Red Owl, thought you might find this book "A Treatise of Artillery by John Muller" published in 1768 handy information on various subjects within Treatise of Artillery