Early Breech Loading Artillery

For images of the ordnance listed here, click on the appropriate link.

Designation Bore Type Length
(calibres)
Weight Projectile
Weight
Muzzle Velocity
(f/s)
Used by the Royal Navy Used by the British Army

Notes

110 pdr.  82 cwt. BL 7.2" BL 17 4 tons 2 cwt. 110 lbs. 1175 x -

Armstrong's (Elswick). Introduced into service 1861. Used aboard HMS Warrior, HMS Black Prince, HMS Defence, HMS Resistance, HMS Hector, HMS Achilles, HMS Prince Consort, HMS Caledonia, HMS Royal Oak, HMS Enterprise, & HMS Pallas.

110 pdr.  72 cwt. BL 7.2" BL 17 3 tons 12 cwt. 110 lbs. 1175 - x

Armstrong's (Elswick). Introduced into service 1863.  Used aboard HMS Warrior & HMS Black Prince. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

32 pdr. 42 cwt. BL 6.3" SBBL   2 tons 2 cwt. - - - x

Converted from 32 pdr. 42 cwt. Used by the Army as close-defence weapons for permanent fortifications.

40 pdr. - BL - - - - - x

Introduced into service 1871. Standard Army Heavy Field Gun during the 1860s & 1870s.

40 pdr. 35 cwt. BL 4.75" BL 21.4 1 ton 15 cwt. 40 lbs 1180 x - Armstrong's (Elswick).  Used aboard HMS Warrior &  HMS Black Prince. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.
40 pdr. 32 cwt. BL 4.75" BL 21.4 1 ton 12 cwt. 40 lbs. 1164 x x

Armstrong's (Elswick).  Used aboard HMS Warrior &  HMS Black Prince. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

20 pdr. 16 cwt. BL 3.75" BL 21.3 16 cwt. 20 lbs. 1400 x x

Armstrong's (Elswick). Introduced into service 1859. Used aboard HMS Warrior, HMS Black Prince, HMS Minotaur, HMS Agincourt, HMS Northumberland, HMS Lord Clyde, HMS Lord Warden, HMS Penelope, HMS Audacious, HMS Invincible, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Vanguard, HMS Sultan, HMS Swiftsure, HMS Triumph, HMS Alexandra, HMS Temeraire, HMS Belleisle, HMS Orion, HMS Neptune, HMS Inflexible, HMS Shannon, HMS Nelson, & HMS Northumberland. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence & Heavy Field Gun.

12 pdr. 8 cwt. 3" BL 19.1 8 cwt. 11.25 lbs. 1239 x x

Armstrong's (Elswick). Introduced into service 1858. Standard Army Field Gun during the 1860s. It was also used by the Royal Navy as a Landing Gun.

9 pdr. 6 cwt. 3" BL 16.4 6 cwt. 8.5 lbs 1055 x x

Armstrong's (Elswick). Introduced into service 1859. Standard Army Horse Artillery Gun during the 1860s. It was also used by the Royal Navy as a Landing Gun.

7 pdr. - BL - - - - - x

Standard Army Mountain Gun during the 1860s.

Key

BL = Breech Loading Gun
cwt. = Hundredweight (112 lbs.)
f/s = feet per second
JBL = Jointed Breech Loading Gun
JRML = Jointed Rifled Muzzle Loading Gun
lbs. = pound
Mk. = Mark
pdr. = pounder
QF = Quick Firing Gun
QFC = Quick Firing Gun converted from a Breech Loading Gun
RML = Rifled Muzzle Loading Gun
SBBL = Smooth Bore Breech Loading Gun
SBML = Smooth Bore Muzzle Loading Gun
ton = 20 cwt. or 2240 lbs.

For images of the ordnance listed here, click on the appropriate link.

© Robert George Cordery (2005)