Muzzle 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

17.72" RML 17.72" RML 20.5 100 tons 2500 lbs. 1724 - x

Armstrong's (Elswick). Introduced into service 1878. Four were used as Coastal Defence Guns on Malta and Gibraltar.

16" RML Mk.I 16" RML 18 81 tons 1684 lbs. 1590 x -

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1878. Used aboard HMS Inflexible. Two were used as Coastal Defence Guns at Dover, where they were installed in a turret.

13" Mortar 13" SBML - 1 ton 18 cwt. 207 lbs. - - x

-

12.5" RML Mk.I 12.5" RML 16 38 tons 810 lbs. 1575 x x

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1875. Used aboard HMS Dreadnought, HMS Agamemnon, and HMS Ajax. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

12" RML Mk.II 12" RML 12 25 tons 609 lbs. 1288 x -

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1870. Used aboard HMS Monarch, HMS Captain, HMS Glatton, HMS Hotspur, HMS Devastation, HMS Thunderer, and HMS Neptune.

12" RML Mk.I 12" RML 13.5 35 tons 707 lbs. 1390 x -

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1871. Used aboard HMS Belleisle and HMS Orion.

11" RML Mk.II 11" RML 12 25 tons 544 lbs. 1314 x x

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1867. Used aboard HMS Alexandra and HMS Temeraire. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

156 pdr. 10.5" SBML - - - - x -

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Used aboard HMS Royal Sovereign.

10" RML Mk.I and Mk.II 10" RML 14.5 18 tons 406 lbs. 1379 x x

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1868. Used aboard HMS Sultan, HMS Hercules, HMS Alexandra, HMS Temeraire, HMS Superb, HMS Cerberus, HMS Magdala, HMS Abyssinia, HMS Rupert, HMS Cyclops, HMS Gorgon, HMS Hecate, HMS Hydra, HMS Shannon, HMS Nelson, and HMS Northumberland. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

10" Shell Gun 84 cwt, 85 cwt, and 86 cwt. 10" SBML - 4 tons 4 cwt., 4 tons 5 cwt. and 4 tons 6 cwt. 84 lbs. - x -

Used aboard HMS Ajax, HMS Blenheim, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Hogue, HMS Cornwallis, HMS Hastings, HMS Hawke, HMS Pembroke, HMS Russell, HMS Mersey, and HMS Orlando.

100 pdr. 'Somerset' 9.5" SBML - 6 tons 10 cwt. 100 lbs. - x -

Armstrong's (Elswick). Used aboard HMS Achilles, HMS Prince Consort, HMS Caledonia, HMS Research, HMS Enterprise, and HMS Favourite.

9" RML Mk. IV 9" RML 14 12 tons 10 cwt. 253 lbs. 1440 x x

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1865. Used aboard HMS Achilles, HMS Minotaur, HMS Agincourt, HMS Northumberland, HMS Prince Consort, HMS Royal Alfred, HMS Lord Clyde, HMS Lord Warden, HMS Bellerophon, HMS Audacious, HMS Invincible, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Vanguard, HMS Sultan, HMS Swiftsure, HMS Triumph, HMS Hercules, HMS Royal Sovereign, HMS Prince Albert, HMS Scorpion, HMS Wivern, HMS Neptune, HMS Shannon, HMS Nelson, and HMS Northumberland. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun at Cliffe Fort (Thames) and Plymouth.

9" RML High Angle Coastal Defence Gun Mk.6 9" RML 13.8 29 tons 5 cwt. 360 lbs. - - x

Introduced into service 1888. Converted from 9" RML Mk.IV. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

68 pdr. 112 cwt. 8.12" SBML 16 5 tons 12 cwt. 68 lbs. - x -

-

68 pdr. 95 cwt. 8.12" SBML 14.8 4 tons 15 cwt. 68 lbs. 1580 x -

Used aboard  HMS Victoria, HMS Howe, HMS Saint Jean D'Acre, HMS Conqueror, HMS Donegal, HMS Duncan, HMS Gibraltar, HMS Agamemnon, HMS James Watt, HMS Victor Emmanuel, HMS Edgar, HMS Hero, HMS Renown, HMS Revenge, HMS Atlas, HMS Anson, HMS Defiance, HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Marlborough, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Royal Albert, HMS Windsor Castle, HMS Orion, HMS Hood, HMS Caesar, HMS Algiers, HMS Princess Royal, HMS Hannibal, HMS Rodney, HMS Nile, HMS London, HMS Nelson, HMS Prince Regent, HMS Royal George, HMS Saint George, HMS Royal William, HMS Neptune, HMS Waterloo, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Albion, HMS Aboukir, HMS Exmouth, HMS Queen, HMS Frederick William, HMS Bombay, HMS Ajax, HMS Blenheim, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Hogue, HMS Cornwallis, HMS Hastings, HMS Hawke, HMS Pembroke, HMS Russell, HMS Mersey, HMS Orlando, HMS Warrior, HMS Black Prince, HMS Defence, HMS Resistance, HMS Hector, HMS Achilles, HMS Prince Consort, HMS Caledonia, and HMS Royal Oak.

68 pdr. 88 cwt. 8.12" SBML 14 4 tons 8 cwt. 68 lbs. 1580 x -

-

8" Shell Gun 65 cwt. 8.05" SBML 13.4 3 tons 5 cwt. 56 lbs. - x -

Used aboard HMS Victoria, HMS Howe, HMS Saint Jean D'Acre, HMS Conqueror, HMS Donegal, HMS Duncan, HMS Gibraltar, HMS Agamemnon, HMS James Watt, HMS Victor Emmanuel, HMS Edgar, HMS Hero, HMS Renown, HMS Revenge, HMS Atlas, HMS Anson, HMS Defiance, HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Marlborough, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Royal Albert, HMS Windsor Castle, HMS Orion, HMS Hood, HMS Caesar, HMS Algiers, HMS Princess Royal, HMS Hannibal, HMS Rodney, HMS Nile, HMS London, HMS Nelson, HMS Prince Regent, HMS Royal George, HMS Saint George, HMS Royal William, HMS Neptune, HMS Waterloo, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Albion, HMS Aboukir, HMS Exmouth, HMS Queen, HMS Frederick William, HMS Cressy, HMS Goliath, HMS Collingwood, HMS Centurion, HMS Mars, HMS Lion, HMS Majestic, HMS Meeanee, HMS Colossus, HMS Brunswick, HMS Irresistible, HMS Bombay, HMS Cornwallis, HMS Hastings, HMS Hawke, HMS Pembroke, and HMS Russell.

8" Shell Gun 60 cwt. 8.05" SBML 13.1 3 tons 56 lbs. - x -

-

8" Shell Gun 52 cwt. 8.05" SBML 11.9 2 tons 12 cwt. 56 lbs. - x -

Used aboard HMS Goliath, HMS Collingwood, HMS Centurion, HMS Mars, HMS Lion, HMS Majestic, HMS Meeanee, HMS Colossus, HMS Brunswick, HMS Irresistible, HMS Sans Pareil, HMS Ajax, HMS Blenheim, HMS Edinburgh, and HMS Hogue.

8" Shell Gun 50 cwt. 8.05" SBML 10 2 tons 10 cwt. 56 lbs. - x -

-

8" Mortar - SBML - - - - - x

Standard Army Heavy Field Mortar during the 1850s and 1860s.

8" RML Mk.III 8" RML 15 9 tons 174 lbs. 1384 x -

Introduced into service 1866. Used aboard HMS Warrior, HMS Black Prince, HMS Defence, HMS Resistance, HMS Hector, HMS Valiant, HMS Achilles,  HMS Northumberland, HMS Prince Consort, HMS Caledonia, HMS Ocean, HMS Royal Oak, HMS Repulse, HMS Lord Clyde, HMS Lord Warden, HMS Pallas, and HMS Penelope.

8" Howitzer 70 cwt. Mk.I and Mk.II 8" RML - 3 tons 10 cwt. - - - x

-

8" Howitzer 46 cwt. Mk.I 8" RML - 2 tons 6 cwt. - - - x

Introduced into service 1872.

56 pdr. 98 cwt. 7.65" SBML 17.3 4 tons 18 cwt. 56 lbs. 1561 x -

-

56 pdr. 87 cwt. 7.65" SBML 15.7 4 tons 11 cwt. 56 lbs. 1561 x -

-

7" RML Mk.III 7" RML 18 7 tons 112 lbs. 1561 - x

Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

7" RML Mk.III 7" RML 16 6 tons 10 cwt. 112 lbs. 1325 x -

Introduced into service 1865. Used aboard HMS Warrior, HMS Black Prince, HMS Defence, HMS Resistance, HMS Hector, HMS Valiant, HMS Achilles, HMS Minotaur, HMS Agincourt, HMS Northumberland, HMS Prince Consort, HMS Caledonia, HMS Ocean, HMS Royal Oak, HMS Royal Alfred, HMS Research, HMS Enterprise, HMS Favourite, HMS Zealous, HMS Lord Clyde, HMS Lord Warden, HMS Pallas, HMS Bellerophon, HMS Hercules, HMS Monarch, and HMS Captain.

7" RML 7" RML - 4 tons 10 cwt. - - x -

-

6.6" Howitzer 36 cwt. Mk.I and Mk. II 6.6" RML 12 1 ton 16 cwt. 110 lbs. - - x

Introduced into service 1880.

64 pdr. 71 cwt. 6.3" RML 15.5 3 tons 11 cwt. 64 lbs. 1125 x x

Converted 8" Shell Gun. Used aboard HMS Favourite, HMS Hotspur, and HMS Rupert. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence and Siege Gun.

64 pdr. 58 cwt. 6.3" RML 15.5 2 tons 18 cwt. 64 lbs. 1125 x x

Converted 32 pdr. 58 cwt.. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence and Siege Gun.

6.3" Howitzer 18 cwt. 6.3" RML - 18 cwt. - - - x

Introduced into service 1878. Standard Army Heavy Field Howitzer during the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s.

42 pdr. 84 cwt. 6.97" SBML 17.2 4 tons 4 cwt. 42 lbs. - x - -
42 pdr. 75 cwt. 6.97" SBML 17.2 3 tons 15 cwt. 42 lbs. - x - -
42 pdr. 67 cwt. 6.97" SBML 16.4 3 tons 7 cwt. 42 lbs. - x - -
40 pdr. RML Mk.II - RML - - 40 lbs. - - x

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich).

40 pdr. RML Mk.I - RML - - 40 lbs. - - x

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1871.

32 pdr. 58 cwt. 6.41" SBML 17.8 2 tons 18 cwt. 32 lbs. - x x

Used aboard HMS Victoria, HMS Howe, HMS Saint Jean D'Acre, HMS Conqueror, HMS Donegal, HMS Duncan, HMS Gibraltar, HMS Agamemnon, HMS James Watt, HMS Victor Emmanuel, HMS Edgar, HMS Hero, HMS Renown, HMS Revenge, HMS Atlas, HMS Anson, HMS Defiance, HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Marlborough, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Royal Albert, HMS Windsor Castle, HMS Orion, HMS Hood, HMS Caesar, HMS Algiers, HMS Princess Royal, HMS Hannibal, HMS Rodney, HMS Nile, HMS London, HMS Nelson, HMS Prince Regent, HMS Royal George, HMS Saint George, HMS Royal William, HMS Neptune, HMS Waterloo, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Albion, HMS Aboukir, HMS Exmouth, HMS Queen, HMS Frederick William, HMS Cressy, HMS Goliath, HMS Collingwood, HMS Centurion, HMS Mars, HMS Lion, HMS Majestic, HMS Meeanee, HMS Colossus, HMS Brunswick, HMS Irresistible, HMS Bombay, HMS Sans Pareil, HMS Ajax, HMS Blenheim, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Hogue, HMS Cornwallis, HMS Hastings, HMS Hawke, HMS Pembroke, and HMS Russell. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

32 pdr. 56 cwt. 6.41" SBML 17.8 2 tons 16 cwt. 32 lbs. - x x

Used aboard HMS Victoria, HMS Howe, HMS Saint Jean D'Acre, HMS Conqueror, HMS Donegal, HMS Duncan, HMS Gibraltar, HMS Agamemnon, HMS James Watt, HMS Victor Emmanuel, HMS Edgar, HMS Hero, HMS Renown, HMS Revenge, HMS Atlas, HMS Anson, HMS Defiance, HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Marlborough, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Royal Albert, HMS Windsor Castle, HMS Orion, HMS Hood, HMS Caesar, HMS Algiers, HMS Princess Royal, HMS Hannibal, HMS Rodney, HMS Nile, HMS London, HMS Nelson, HMS Prince Regent, HMS Royal George, HMS Saint George, HMS Royal William, HMS Neptune, HMS Waterloo, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Albion, HMS Aboukir, HMS Exmouth, HMS Queen, HMS Frederick William, HMS Cressy, HMS Goliath, HMS Collingwood, HMS Centurion, HMS Mars, HMS Lion, HMS Majestic, HMS Meeanee, HMS Colossus, HMS Brunswick, HMS Irresistible, HMS Bombay, HMS Sans Pareil, HMS Ajax, HMS Blenheim, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Hogue, HMS Cornwallis, HMS Hastings, HMS Hawke, HMS Pembroke, and HMS Russell. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

32 pdr. 50 cwt. 6.375" SBML 16.9 2 tons 10 cwt. 32 lbs. - x - -
32 pdr. 45 cwt. 6.35" SBML 16  2 tons 5 cwt. 32 lbs. - x x

Used aboard HMS Victoria, HMS Howe, HMS Saint Jean D'Acre, HMS Conqueror, HMS Donegal, HMS Duncan, HMS Gibraltar, HMS Agamemnon, HMS James Watt, HMS Victor Emmanuel, HMS Edgar, HMS Hero, HMS Renown, HMS Revenge, HMS Atlas, HMS Anson, HMS Defiance, HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Marlborough, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Royal Albert, HMS Windsor Castle, HMS Orion, HMS Hood, HMS Caesar, HMS Algiers, HMS Princess Royal, HMS Hannibal, HMS Rodney, HMS Nile, HMS London, HMS Nelson, HMS Prince Regent, HMS Royal George, HMS Saint George, HMS Royal William, HMS Neptune, HMS Waterloo, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Albion, HMS Aboukir, HMS Exmouth, HMS Queen, HMS Frederick William, HMS Cressy, HMS Goliath, HMS Collingwood, HMS Centurion, HMS Mars, HMS Lion, HMS Majestic, HMS Meeanee, HMS Colossus, HMS Brunswick, HMS Irresistible, HMS Bombay, and HMS Sans Pareil. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

32 pdr. 42 cwt. 6.35" SBML 15.1 2 tons 2 cwt. 32 lbs. - x x

Used aboard HMS Victoria, HMS Howe, HMS Saint Jean D'Acre, HMS Conqueror, HMS Donegal, HMS Duncan, HMS Gibraltar, HMS Agamemnon, HMS James Watt, HMS Victor Emmanuel, HMS Edgar, HMS Hero, HMS Renown, HMS Revenge, HMS Atlas, HMS Anson, HMS Defiance, HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Marlborough, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Royal Albert, HMS Windsor Castle, HMS Orion, HMS Hood, HMS Caesar, HMS Algiers, HMS Princess Royal, HMS Hannibal, HMS Rodney, HMS Nile, HMS London, HMS Nelson, HMS Prince Regent, HMS Royal George, HMS Saint George, HMS Royal William, HMS Neptune, HMS Waterloo, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Albion, HMS Aboukir, HMS Exmouth, HMS Queen, HMS Frederick William, HMS Cressy, HMS Goliath, HMS Collingwood, HMS Centurion, HMS Mars, HMS Lion, HMS Majestic, HMS Meeanee, HMS Colossus, HMS Brunswick, HMS Irresistible, HMS Bombay, and HMS Sans Pareil. Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

32 pdr. 25 cwt. 6.3" SBML 11.4 1 ton 5 cwt. 32 lbs. - x -

Used aboard HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Marlborough, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Prince Regent, HMS Royal George, and HMS Sans Pareil

25 pdr. 18 cwt. - RML - 18 cwt. 25 lbs. - - x

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1874. Standard Army Siege Gun during the 1870s.

24 pdr. Howitzer - SBML - - - - x x

Used by the Royal Navy aboard the shallow-draught steam gunboats built to support inshore operations during the Russian War (1854 - 1856). Standard Army Field Howitzer Gun during the 1850s.

24 pdr. - SBML - - - - x x

Used by the Royal Navy aboard many different warships.  Used by the Army as a Coastal Defence Gun.

18 pdr. - SBML - - - - - x

Standard Army Heavy Field Gun during the 1850s.

16 pdr. 12 cwt. - RML - 12 cwt. - - - x

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

13 pdr. 8 cwt. - RML - 8 cwt. - - - x

Royal Gun Factory (Woolwich). Introduced into service 1877. Standard Army Horse Artillery and Field Gun during the 1880s.

12 pdr. 3" SBML - - - - - x

Standard Army Horse Artillery Gun during the 1850s.

12 pdr. Howitzer - SBML - - - - - x

Standard Army Mountain Howitzer during the 1850s.

9 pdr. - SBML - - - - - x

Standard Army Field Gun during the 1850s.

9 pdr. 8 cwt. - RML - 8 cwt. - - - x

Introduced into service 1871. Standard Army Horse Artillery and Field Gun during the early 1870s.

9 pdr. 6 cwt. - RML - 6 cwt. - - - x

Introduced into service 1874. Standard Army Horse Artillery and Field Gun during the late 1870s.

7 pdr. 3" RML - 3.4 cwt. - - x x

Standard Army Mountain Gun during the 1870s. It was also used by the Royal Navy as a Landing Gun until the 1900s.

7 pdr. (The Screw Gun) 2.5" JRML - 3.6 cwt. 7 lbs. - - x

Standard Army Mountain Gun during the 1880s and 1890s. The famous Screw Gun.

6 pdr. - SBML - - - 1600 - x

Standard Army Horse Artillery Gun during the 1850s.

3 pdr. 2.9" SBML - - - - - x

Standard Army Mountain Gun during the 1850s.

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)