The War of 1812 once-again pitted the British Empire against its former colonies making up the United States. This led to a ramping up of war-making products and, in 1811, the "Columbiad" gun was introduced by the United States. These heavy weapons were affixed to fortifications in defense of British forces, particularly approaching naval elements, and featured within the confines of forts along the American East and Southern coasts. The guns were powerful systems capable of reaching out to the enemy at range and firing both shell or shot. Mainly used for defensive purposes, there was little stopping a crew from utilizing the gun as an offensive-minded implement. The type was in circulation by the time of the American Civil War (1861-1865) and used by both sides of the conflict in one way or another.
The weapons were typically set atop heavy-duty mountings that allowed for some wheeled traversal as well as elevation. This provided for some tactical flexibility but the guns were heavy and, nonetheless, cumbersome to wield in short order. In what became known as the "Rodman Process" after its developer, U.S. Army officer Thomas Rodman, the guns had a "band" wrapped around their existing barrel rear sections for added strength and this allowed evermore powerful charges to be used thus increasing a given projectiles range and destructive power. This also increased the resiliency of the iron guns that were prone to fracturing after sustained use. Of course the process served in allowing engineers to produce evermore powerful, and larger caliber, guns in time.
Beyond their used by Federal (Northern) forces of the Civil War, the Confederates managed to capture existing stocks of Columbiads from Federal arsenals when the secession of states began in early-1861 (South Carolina became the first in late-December 1860). Confederate foundries also took up local production of the gun in various calibers though quality was sometimes wanting and these weapons also lacked the reinforcement qualities of their Rodman-modified Union brethren for the most part. The Confederate inventory yielded both 8" and 10" type guns but only a small percentage of these were known to be rifled. Columbiads were present during the defense / occupation of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina - site where the first shots of the war were fired. Even though designed as line-of-sight field guns, the elevation reach and power of Columbiads saw some of the type used as mortar weapons, in this case the projectiles being lobbed along a higher trajectory than normal for an artillery gun.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
FIRE SUPPORT / ASSAULT / BREACHING
Support allied forces through direct / in-direct fire, assault forward positions, and / or breach fortified areas of the battlefield.
23.0 ft (7 meters) Length
3.3 ft (1 meters) Width
6.6 ft (2 meters) Height
15,432 lb (7,000 kg) Weight
7.7 tons (Light-class) Tonnage
None. This is a fixed artillery piece. Drive System
2 miles (4 km) Road Range
1 x 7.25", 8", 10", 15" or 20" gun barrel.
AMMUNITION
Dependent upon ammunition stocks available.
Model 1811 - Base Series Designation
Images
1 / 2
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
2 / 2
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.
