×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Infantry Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Chart (2024)
HOME
ARMOR INDEX
MODERN ARMIES
ARMOR BY COUNTRY
VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE VEHICLES
VEHICLES BY CONFLICT
VEHICLES BY TYPE
VEHICLES BY DECADE
Land Systems / Battlefield

Model 1841 6-Pounder


Towed Field Gun [ 1841 ]



The Model 1841 6-pounder field gun proved the standard artillery piece for both sides of the American Civil War in its first year.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/23/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
The United States Army adopted a new standardized 6-pounder field gun in 1841 as the aptly-designated Model 1841. The weapon's design was centered around an all-brass, 3.6-inch diameter smoothbore barrel (an upgrade from previous iron offerings) measuring approximately 60-inches long (swelled at the muzzle). While listing an overall range of 1,500 yards, the weapon's true lethality was felt at 1,000 yards and under depending on shot selected. The remainder of the design was conventional for the period, involving a mounting assembly atop a two-wheeled carriage with tow arm. A two-wheeled limber (creating the "carriage and limber" arrangement common to the period) was used to haul the ready-to-fire cannon shot. The limber typically provided 105 x 3.58-inch basic shot (6.1lbs, hence the "6-pounder" designation), 30 canister shots and 15 spherical case shots (fitting 48 cast iron balls) across three chests. The American Model 1841 ended up proving comparable in its battlefield effectiveness to its European rivals of the time. It was on full display during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) which saw a United States Army victory.

By the time of the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Model 1841 had seen its best days though it was still in circulation and thusly pressed into action. It was in the process of seeing replacement for the US Army had begun adoption of the more capable Model 1857 "Napoleon" 12-pounder gun series - soon to become the most common of the Civil War. Regardless, the Model 1841 remained in useful numbers and proved the standard field gun for both sides through at least the first year of the conflict. In practice, they provided some measure of success though their limitations were keenly felt, particularly in siege warfare where its shot proved less than effective against fortified structures. Each unit weighed some 880lbs making them a bear to relocate and requiring multiple crew and pack animals. The comparable British 6-pounder was 672lbs. A ramrod was affixed to the carriage to provide a wet swapping action for the hot barrel and to push shot down all the way to the chamber base.

When the Model 1857s became available in greater numbers, Union forces relegated their existing Model 1841 stocks to reserves or for use on naval vessels where their firepower might still be usable. For the South, the Model 1841 remained in service a time longer until better alternatives were adopted. Lacking the industrial resources of their counterparts in the North, many Model 1841s were often melted down to be reconstituted into newer, more modern cannon designs.©MilitaryFactory.com
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.

Specifications



Service Year
1841

Origin
United States national flag graphic
United States

Crew
8
CREWMEN
Production
1,000
UNITS


State Arsenals - USA / Confederate States - USA
(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of the Confederate States of America National flag of the United States Confederate States; United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Fire Support / Assault / Breaching
Support allied forces through direct / in-direct fire, assault forward positions, and / or breach fortified areas of the battlefield.


Length
4.9 ft
1.5 m
Weight
882 lb
400 kg
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Model 1841 6-Pounder production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)
1 x 3.6" Bronze Barrel


Supported Types




(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
Typically 150 x shot of various types - basic shot, canister and spherical case shot.


Model 1841 (6-Pounder) - Base Series Designation


Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of the Bulge
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Kursk
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War
Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2
Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War
Military lapel ribbon for experimental military vehicles


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery



1 / 1
Image of the Model 1841 6-Pounder

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies


2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

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.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)