Author Topic: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun. Update of video with complete system.  (Read 3810 times)

Offline Drydock

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Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline Niederlander

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2019, 09:50:36 PM »
It would have been amazing to see that thing in action!
"There go those Nebraskans, and all hell couldn't stop them!"

Offline River City John

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2019, 09:57:01 PM »
I could not get a sense of what a load/fire/swab/reload cycle would be in time elapsed.

Any info?

RCJ
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Offline Drydock

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2019, 10:02:30 AM »
ship board it was one shot every 4 minutes.
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline River City John

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2019, 11:14:21 AM »
Thanks Drydock.

"I was born by the river in a little tent, and just like the river I've been running ever since." - Sam Cooke
"He who will not look backward with reverence, will not look forward with hope." - Edmund Burke
". . .freedom is not everything or the only thing, perhaps we will put that discovery behind us and comprehend, before it's too late, that without freedom all else is nothing."- G. Warren Nutter
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Offline Guns Garrett

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2019, 11:44:09 AM »
When I first saw the subject title, I thought it was a misprint...usually a gun designated by a weight is referring to the weight of the projectile.  With a 17.72" bore, the Armstrong's shell would be around 2000 lb, or 1 ton.  The "100 Ton" must refer to the weight of the entire piece.  I know the "Swamp Angel" was a "200-Pounder Parrott" of 8" bore.  Cool animation, tho...
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Offline Drydock

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2019, 04:57:10 PM »
Witworth rated Muzzleloaders by the barrel weight.  Breechloaders by projectile weight.
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline Sagebrush Burns

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2019, 10:28:23 PM »
Drydock we need one of these for the Grand Muster - hitch it to the back of your trailer and haul it up the hill...

Offline Delmonico

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #8 on: November 03, 2019, 01:22:52 AM »
Make sure the wind is in the right direction or lunch may taste like rotten eggs.🤮
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Offline Niederlander

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #9 on: November 03, 2019, 06:20:13 AM »
How much powder did that thing use for a maximum range shot?
"There go those Nebraskans, and all hell couldn't stop them!"

Offline Drydock

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #10 on: November 03, 2019, 09:30:24 AM »
Around 550 lbs.
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline River City John

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #11 on: November 03, 2019, 09:49:24 AM »
Imagine the Hazmat fee . . .
"I was born by the river in a little tent, and just like the river I've been running ever since." - Sam Cooke
"He who will not look backward with reverence, will not look forward with hope." - Edmund Burke
". . .freedom is not everything or the only thing, perhaps we will put that discovery behind us and comprehend, before it's too late, that without freedom all else is nothing."- G. Warren Nutter
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Offline Niederlander

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #12 on: November 03, 2019, 01:31:13 PM »
Around 550 lbs.
Wow!  ONE shot would provide me a lifetime of powder!
"There go those Nebraskans, and all hell couldn't stop them!"

Offline Drydock

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Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline Niederlander

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #14 on: November 03, 2019, 03:46:59 PM »
Do you suppose you could grind that "cocoa powder" into smaller grains to use in small arms?
"There go those Nebraskans, and all hell couldn't stop them!"

Offline Drydock

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #15 on: November 03, 2019, 05:36:50 PM »
I believe it burns too slow for small arms, and with the low to nil sulfur content would be very hard to ignite if ground to the small grain size needed for small arms.  Most bag gun charges even today have a small amount of standard black powder sewn in one end of the bag to act as an igniter.
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline Niederlander

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Re: Operation of the Witworth 100 ton gun.
« Reply #16 on: November 03, 2019, 06:40:19 PM »
Probably not a big deal, as I'm not likely to find a bag of that "cocoa powder" lying around anyway.........
"There go those Nebraskans, and all hell couldn't stop them!"

Offline Drydock

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Original video in first entry updated with complete system operation.
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline sail32

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At last a real black powder muzzle loader !

Variations were also used on battleships.

Double loading of a muzzle loader on a British Battleship and the resulting explosion caused the British to switch back to, and stay with breech loaders on their battleships.

 

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