Model 1861 10-Pounder Parrott Rifle

Towed Rifled Field Gun [ 1861 ]

The Model 1861 Parrott Rifle was a mistrusted artillery piece design of the American Civil War due to the shattering nature of their iron rifled barrels.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/12/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

Prior to the American Civil War (1861-1865), Robert Parker Parrott served as a captain in the US Army. From this experience, Parrott took up a position as superintendent of West Point Foundry and began design and development of several artillery pieces centered around the use of cast iron construction. The shift from bronze-barreled guns to iron-barreled guns was intriguing - artillery pieces could now be rifled internally which allowed for greater accuracy at range. Additionally, they proved lighter than comparable battlefield pieces of the time and, furthermore, iron proved plentiful in the industrialized North. Parrott's experimentation soon begat a series of field guns that were adopted by the US Army in 10-, 20-, 32-, 100-, 150-, 200-, 250- and 300-pounder forms.

The "10-pounder Parrott Rifle" featured a 2.9" bore firing a 10lb elongated projectile made exclusively for this gun. It sported an iron barrel with the typical muzzle swell encountered on competing designs. The barrel was situated atop a mounting which was coupled to a two-wheeled carriage system featuring a single tow arm. No recoil system was present so the gun moved freely backwards with each shot, forcing the crew to reposition and re-sight their cannon before firing again. Initial models were known as "Model 1861 10-Pounder Rifle". Loading was accomplished by inserting a powder charge followed by the projectile to which both were rammed down the barrel by a ramrod.

However, all of the added value apparent in bringing iron-barreled guns into operation were soon questioned. Iron proved too brittle for the inherently violent forces encountered in firing a cannon which led to breech fracturing or shattering which could (and often did) prove lethal to the gunnery crew itself (as many as eight personnel manned the weapon due to its size and weight as well as the weight of each projectile and general actions involved in efficient firing). To remedy this issue, a thick wrought iron band was developed and, while still hot and malleable, this was wrapped around the outside surface of the breech section of each gun. When cooled, these bands formed a tight, reinforced structural support at the most lethal section of the gun.©MilitaryFactory.com

With that, Model 1861 Parrott Rifles entered a period of extensive operational service and their numbers meant that they would be used by both sides of the conflict. The 10-pounder forms were comparable to the 1857 Napoleons in the field, which proved excellent field guns during the entire conflict in their own right, though Parrott Rifles were rifled for range and lighter in overall weight making them more tactically valuable and relatively easier to manage under fire. Accuracy was strong until about 2,000 or so yards though some effectiveness could still be achieved under 3,000 yards, giving the gunnery crew great length against their enemy. Gun barrels weighed 1,750lbs alone and the 10lb projectile relied on a 2lb charge. Couple these values with the base weight of the carriage and one begins to understand the overall weights involved in maneuvering an artillery piece if this period (even those of comparable design appearing Europe at the time). A full battery of these guns could number multiple Parrott Rifles along with applicable limbers and caissons as well as supporting personnel totaling near 100 or more with cavalry units - a massive commitment of guns, man, beast and supplies.

Still, however, the issue of brittle iron persisted. Guns still shattered under stress though now the shattering occurred at the center of the barrel's length ahead of the breech bands. While not entirely reliable in service, Parrott Rifles were still available in the required numbers and their use persisted nonetheless. Gunnery crews simply dealt with the possibility of exploding barrels with each firing action and lived and died by their temperamental artillery pieces. Parrott Rifles proved multi-faceted in that they could be used along mobile battlefronts or as static fixtures in defense of key facilities. Parrott Rifles were manufactured out of the West Point Arsenal of Cold Spring, New York. Confederate factories managed to copy the type through facilities based in Georgia and appeared under the brand labels of Noble Brothers Foundry and the Macon Arsenal. Confederate versions are differentiated through their use of "Brooke" style rifling (developed by John Mercer Brooke).

10-pounder Parrott Rifles were present at the famous Battle of Gettysburg under issue to the 5th New York Battery. Targets as far out as 2,100 yards were reportedly reached with these guns and this through generally good accuracy. In 1863, Union forces adopted a 3" bore size 10-pounder Parrott Rifle and these versions soon replaced the 2.9" form. These also lost their identifiable muzzle swell form.©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

1861

Origin

United States

Crew

8
CREWMEN

Production

2,500
UNITS

West Point Arsenal - USA; Noble Brothers Foundry / Macon Arsenal - CSA

(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)

National flag of the Confederate States of America

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.

Weight

1,984 lb
900 kg

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Model 1861 10-Pounder Parrott Rifle production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)

Powerplant: None. This is a towed artillery piece.

Range

1.2 mi
(2.0 km)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Model 1861 10-Pounder Parrott Rifle production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)

1 x 2.9" rifled iron barrel.

Supported Types

(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)

Dependent upon ammunition carrier / available supplies.

Model 1861 - Original Production Models of 2.9" bore.

Model 1863 - Updated and adopted follow up models of 3.0" bore; lack of muzzle swell.

Brooke Rifle - CSA production copy based on the Model 1861 series.

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 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 1861 10-Pounder Parrott Rifle

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)