Hvy.Arty Rifled Columbiad Ammunition?

[J.H. Moose]

I've always been fascinated by the Confederacy's attempts to modernize its aging smoothbores through rifling and banding, particularly the Columbiads.

With the other large rifled guns it's readily documented how 32# and 42#ers were supplied with 6.4" and 7" shells respectively, with an array of designs such as Reads, Mullanes, Brookes etc

I've never, however, seen any examples of such shells in the 8" and 10" ranges for the various Columbiads that were rifled by the Confederacy. Do we happen to know what shells these guns would've fired?
Given that most of the rifled Columbiads operated in the vicinity of Charleston I'd assume that the arsenal there would've manufactured ammunition for these unique guns, possibly of the Harding variety?

 

[USS ALASKA]

Sir, please see - https://civilwartalk.com/threads/tredegar-rifled-cannon.132174/

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[UCVRelics]

I've always been fascinated by the Confederacy's attempts to modernize its aging smoothbores through rifling and banding, particularly the Columbiads.
View attachment 514662
With the other large rifled guns it's readily documented how 32# and 42#ers were supplied with 6.4" and 7" shells respectively, with an array of designs such as Reads, Mullanes, Brookes etc
View attachment 514663
I've never, however, seen any examples of such shells in the 8" and 10" ranges for the various Columbiads that were rifled by the Confederacy. Do we happen to know what shells these guns would've fired?
Given that most of the rifled Columbiads operated in the vicinity of Charleston I'd assume that the arsenal there would've manufactured ammunition for these unique guns, possibly of the Harding variety?

The main ones were the 8 inch Brooke and Harding. These 2 were recovered in Charleston.

 

[J.H. Moose]

The main ones were the 8 inch Brooke and Harding. These 2 were recovered in Charleston.

View attachment 514701View attachment 514702

Beautiful looking birds, Harding variants are always fascinating. Thanks!

 

[rebelatsea]

James Eason rifled 32pdr 42pdr smoothbores, and most famously the 10" Columbiads at Charleston SC. Eason used a unique thick single band reinforce and the rifling used was a 15 groove right hand twist (at least in the Columbiads) to an English patent. They certainly fired solid shot, and presumably could fire shell too.

The 32pdr 6.4" and 42pdr 7" could fire Brooke projectiles, I think Easons probably provided the ammunition for the 10" Columbiads.

The Sardinian artillerist, Colonel Cavalli devised a sabot to enable round shot to be fired from rifled guns, but his were breech loaders and I doubt that the principle was ever used in either Union or Confederate muzzle loaders despite both Brooke and Dahlgren being aware of his work.

In part Easons did this because General Beauregard kept taking Brooke guns intended for the ironclads. However the 10" Columbiads were rifled and banded at his request indicating that the smaller conversions were successful.

Interestingly it seems that no one attempted the same on the 9" Dahlgren SB. One was banded at Gosport NY and finished up in CSS MCrae at New Orleans , where it was well regarded. I'm taking an educated guess that the 9" bore was too short in proportion to the calibre to make rifling effective.

 

[redbob]

Eason & Company of Charleston also manufactured some rather interesting shells for their modified smoothbores.

 

[J.H. Moose]

Eason & Company of Charleston also manufactured some rather interesting shells for their modified smoothbores.View attachment 514736

Charleston, Vicksburg and Petersburg produce some of the most fascinating projectiles of the war. I guess there is no better possible testing ground for novel designs and prototypes than a protracted artillery duel that goes on for weeks, months (or in Charleston's case) years

 

[Nick Elsden]

James Eason rifled 32pdr 42pdr smoothbores, and most famously the 10" Columbiads at Charleston SC. Eason used a unique thick single band reinforce and the rifling used was a 15 groove right hand twist (at least in the Columbiads) to an English patent. They certainly fired solid shot, and presumably could fire shell too.

The 32pdr 6.4" and 42pdr 7" could fire Brooke projectiles, I think Easons probably provided the ammunition for the 10" Columbiads.

The Sardinian artillerist, Colonel Cavalli devised a sabot to enable round shot to be fired from rifled guns, but his were breech loaders and I doubt that the principle was ever used in either Union or Confederate muzzle loaders despite both Brooke and Dahlgren being aware of his work.

In part Easons did this because General Beauregard kept taking Brooke guns intended for the ironclads. However the 10" Columbiads were rifled and banded at his request indicating that the smaller conversions were successful.

Interestingly it seems that no one attempted the same on the 9" Dahlgren SB. One was banded at Gosport NY and finished up in CSS MCrae at New Orleans , where it was well regarded. I'm taking an educated guess that the 9" bore was too short in proportion to the calibre to make rifling effective.

Intriguing ... is there any understanding of whether the banded 9" on the McRae was left smoothbore or rifled ?

 

[USS ALASKA]

Eason & Company of Charleston

Charleston Shipbuilders- Eason Bros. | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

I am looking for information (or a good source of info) on Eason Bros shipbuilders from Charleston.

civilwartalk.com

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[redbob]

Charleston Shipbuilders- Eason Bros. | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

I am looking for information (or a good source of info) on Eason Bros shipbuilders from Charleston.

civilwartalk.com

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

Information on them is rather limited as I found out while researching their armaments business. I have a picture of their foundry somewhere, but that's about it.

 

[rebelatsea]

Intriguing ... is there any understanding of whether the banded 9" on the McRae was left smoothbore or rifled ?

No it was not rifled. Alledgedly it was well thought of on the ship. So far as I can ascertain, no attempt was ever made by either side to rifle the 9" SB.