Firing a 32lb Seacoast Gun! Video

[Mutt]

Greetings all,

Follow this link to see some of my bubs at Fort Delaware firing a 32lb Seacoast Gun: 32 pdr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6g9d9aMEA0)

It is the first time in a very long time it has been fired. The gun was first installed in the 70s if I recall correctly. The tube is an original found in a junk yard somewhere in PA. The carraige is a spot-on repro usinf some original iron parts. Beautiful setup. The "Delaware Blues" volunteer crew used to fire cans filled with concrete out of it until the spooked a Boat on the river and it all came to a stop.

About a month ago they fired twice using 2 and 4 lbs of powder respectively, no projectile; however, I am not sure which is in the video. I do know they made powder bags from woolen material as per original specs. The service load for the piece is 8lbs. Of course they chose not to use that much for the Fort's and gun's sake. Most guys in the crew are sporting the ************ heavy arty dress coats.

Enjoy!

[Hardtack Herring]

That was fantastic!

[Forquer]

Very nice. I didn't know that the heavies had their version of #4 on the right of the piece.

I also would have thought the noise on the inside of the casemate would have been louder but, with the force of the blast being directed outward with the gun being run out, the sound level wasn't too bad.

[Spinster]

Marvelous!

Only in recent years have the great coastal guns at Fort Gaines been declared as no longer wise to fire, though they still stand on their emplacements on the walls of the fort, through many an Alabama Gulf Coast Hurricane.

A number of years ago, before I took the time to learn to read the signals of gun crews, I foolishly crossed behind one of those 12 foot tubes, blinded/deafened by a slat bonnet, and hampered by water buckets.

As the gun fired, I went head over teakettle from the recoil, some 30 feet behind the tube, landing in the soft sand, drenched by my buckets in the 100 degree heat, and making quite a foolish show. It was not long after that I associated with an artillery unit, in order to learn more, so as not to be a hazard to myself and others.

Its a testimony to the construction of the period that so many of these survive in good condition. Their survivial through the next 150 years will depend on our own conservation of them.

[Swag]

Ah, that looked like fun, of course they have to do it while im at college so I couldn't be there :(

Respecfully Yours,
Sean M. Lamb
H.I.A

[Jeffrey Cohen]

Too bad there was no video of the fellows from 50 years ago shelling that Japanese frieghter with concrete soup cans.
Regards,
Jeffrey Cohen

[Chris Suppelsa]

That made my day,

Thanks

[bholt61stny]

Having been to Fort Delaware numerous times and never seeing that in person, and now watcing that video I can say that that was definitely awesome.

[Swag]

"Too bad there was no video of the fellows from 50 years ago shelling that Japanese frieghter with concrete soup cans."

And How, I would have loved to see that

Respectfully Yours,
Sean M. Lamb
H.I.A

[marine05]

effin' A skippy!!! Wow!!!

[Carolann Schmitt]

Cool!

However, watching Charlie Smithgall fire 47-lb balls from an 8" siege howitzer at N-SSA nationals a few weeks ago was even more impressive, even if safety regulations precluded firing a full 4 pound service load.

Paulson Brothers Ordnance has a number of videos on their web site at http://www.pbocorp.biz/action.htm

No “girly blanks” here… it’s all the real thing - shot at the Paulson's range, at distances of 800-1000 yds with full service loads. Yes Mother, those are real exploding shells, not pyrotechnics. The video quality isn’t the greatest, but it gives you a pretty good sense of what it's like. The 8" siege howitzer and 8" and 10" siege mortar films are pretty interesting, including what an incoming mortar shell sounds like.

[Mutt]

Carolann,

Very Cool!!!

Come to think of it, my old boss mentioned those firings to me. It's great to actually see them now. I wish the video was bigger and better, but it was aweseome none-the-less! I'd always wanted to try tamping the powder on those big ol mortars.

I loved the Parrott on a front-pintle barbette!

Thanks for posting the link!

[Savannah Republican Blues]

Hey guys,

32lbrs are fun ANY day of the week! It doesn't matter if their on a Barbette or a Casemate carriage. However, You guys think thats neat!? If you ever have the opportunity to go to Fort James Jackson in Savannah when they are firing the 9 In. Dahlgren with a 5-6 lb. service load! I HIGHLY recommend seeing it. I've got the most trigger time on her and I'm proud to say that is happiest I've ever been while doing Seacoast Artillery.:wink_smil

32 lbs of powder... $30
Serviceing a 32lbr. Seacoast Gun...Exciting
Servicing and Firing a 9 In. Dahlgren...Friggin AWESOME!

Kind Regards,
Savannah Republican Blues

[Milliron]

Having been to Ft. Delaware I can say it's a pleasure to see a continued progression in the program there. That fort is truly one of the unknown wonders of the CW world. Think mini-Sumter--intact--on an island. Yeah, it's neat.

That said, you really haven't lived until you've seen the Ft. Henry Guard in Kingston, Ontario fire their 32 pounder with a duty load with all traps by the 1850's British artillery manual on any given weekend during the summer. These would have been our adversaries if the Union had gone to war with Britain during the WBTS. Let's say it wouldn't have been a cakewalk. Neat stuff.