A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
| Ridgeway Civil War Research Center,
A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War |
| Civil War Artillery | |
| by Harry Ridgeway |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design Research Center: Artillery3400-Britten,   Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3400-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, solid bolt, pattern with long rounded nose, lead cup sabot, 10 pounder rifle, 2.9 in. or Ordnance rifle, 3in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. Bolt was turned on a lathe, when sabot is missing there is lathe dimple and lathe marks on bottom, some will have ring around the nose which probably was left from it being clamped to the lathe, American producers tended to use knobs. Projectile measures smaller than 2.9 in. suggesting that it may have originally been intended for the 10 pounder, however, the short length with a soft lead sabot would not have been suited at all for a 3 groove 10 pounder 2.9in. rifle, those missing the sabot may have been fired from this rifle, the torque from firing 3 groove would tend to rip the sabot away. All examples recovered with fired sabot remaining show 7 grooves suggesting most were actually fired from a 3 inch rifle, it would have fit loose in a 3 inch bore and this would account for the weak rifling. It is speculated that this pattern was originally manufactured for the smaller 2.9in. rifle, but most were used in the 3in. rifle as a practical solution. Projectile measures: diameter 2.45in., length 5.25in. (excluding sabot), weight 5.7lbs., without sabot. Research Center: Artillery3411-Britten, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 108.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3411-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, solid bolt, pattern with short tapered nose, lead cup sabot, 10 pounder rifle, 2.9 in. or Ordnance rifle, 3in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. Bolt was turned on a lathe, when sabot is missing there is lathe dimple and lathe marks on bottom, some will have ring around the nose which probably was left from it being clamped to the lathe, American producers tended to use knobs. Projectile measures smaller than 2.9 in. suggesting that it may have originally been intended for the 10 pounder, however, the short length with a soft lead sabot would not have been suited at all for a 3 groove 10 pounder 2.9in. rifle, those missing the sabot may have been fired from this rifle, the torque from firing 3 groove would tend to rip the sabot away. All examples recovered with fired sabot remaining show 7 grooves suggesting most were actually fired from a 3 inch rifle, it would have fit loose in a 3 inch bore and this would account for the weak rifling. It is speculated that this pattern was originally manufactured for the smaller 2.9in. rifle, but most were used in the 3in. rifle as a practical solution. Projectile measures: diameter 2.86in., length 5.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 7.0lb. Research Center: Artillery3412-Britten, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 109.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3412-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with short tapered nose segmented interior, lead cup sabot, threaded for unknown fuze, 10 pounder rifle, 2.9 in. or Ordnance rifle, 3in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. There is a ring around the nose which probably was left from it being clamped to the lathe, American producers tended to use knobs. Interior is segmented to provide points of weakness for maximum fragmentation. It appears that the segmented interior, which is hardened steel, may have initially been manufactured as rolled sheet, then bent into a cylinder forming the core, then an iron skin cast onto the cylinder, the casting is very thin on the bottom covered only by the lead cup sabot. Fuze hole is left hand threaded British fuze, however all that have been recovered either were missing the fuze or the fuze was plugged with a wood shipping plug. There is some evidence that these shells were captured by the Federals from the Confederates and were simply fired as bolts due to the problem of them being separated from their fuzes. Projectile measures smaller than 2.9 in. suggesting that it may have originally been intended for the 10 pounder, however, the short length with a soft lead sabot would not have been suited at all for a 3 groove 10 pounder 2.9in. rifle, those missing the sabot may have been fired from this rifle, the torque from firing 3 groove would tend to rip the sabot away. All examples recovered with fired sabot remaining show 7 grooves suggesting most were actually fired from a 3 inch rifle, it would have fit loose in a 3 inch bore and this would account for the weak rifling. It is speculated that this pattern was originally manufactured for the smaller 2.9in. rifle, but most were used in the 3in. rifle as a practical solution. Projectile measures: diameter 2.86in., length 5.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 6.2lb. Research Center: Artillery3413-Britten, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 110.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3413-Britten.html. |
A0913...Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, 2.9 in. or 3in., base and sabot.   This is fired sabot that separated from its shell. Base shows 7 lands and grooves as well as segmented interior! Recovered: Helena Arkansas. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, solid bolt, long pattern recovered Georgiana blockade runner, lead cup sabot, rifle, 3in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. There is a ring around the nose, purpose is not determined. This tall pattern of Britten was being shipped to the Confederacy on the blockade runner "Georgiana" which was sunk off the coast of South Carolina, all were lost at the time. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6in. weight 8lbs. (estimated, metal is typically very weak). Research Center: Artillery3414-Britten, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 112.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3414-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, bursting shell, long pattern with segmented interior recovered Georgiana blockade runner, lead cup sabot, rifle, 3 in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. There is a ring around the nose, purpose is not determined. Interior is segmented to provide points of weakness for maximum fragmentation. Shell has been cut exposing the segmented interior. Fuze hole was prepared for a lead fuze type unknown, only fragments of these fuzes have been recovered. This tall pattern of Britten was being shipped to the Confederacy on the blockade runner "Georgiana" which was sunk off the coast of South Carolina, all were lost at the time. Projectile measures: diameter 2.9in., length 6in. weight 8lbs. (estimated, metal is typically very weak) Research Center: Artillery3415-Britten, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 113.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3415-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, solid bolt, pattern with short tapered nose, lead cup sabot, Blakely rifle 3.5 in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. There is a ring around the nose which probably was left from it being clamped to the lathe, American producers tended to use knobs. Projectile measures: diameter 3.5in., length 6.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 11.5lb. Research Center: Artillery3421-Britten, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 115.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3421-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with short tapered nose segmented interior, lead cup sabot, Britten percussion fuze, Blakely rifle 3.5 in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. There is a ring around the nose which probably was left from it being clamped to the lathe, American producers tended to use knobs. Interior is segmented to provide points of weakness for maximum fragmentation. It appears that the segmented interior, which is hardened steel, may have initially been manufactured as rolled sheet, then bent into a cylinder forming the core, then an iron skin cast onto the cylinder, the casting is thin on the bottom covered only by the lead cup sabot. Fuze hole is left hand threaded for a Britten percussion fuze, the domed fuze was highly advanced at the time, (Jones, Fuzes, Pg 72). Projectile measures: diameter 3.4in., length 6in. (excluding fuze), weight 11.5lbs. Research Center: Artillery3422-Britten, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 117.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3422-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, solid bolt, long pattern recovered Georgiana blockade runner, lead cup sabot, rifle, 3.67 in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. There is a ring around the nose, purpose is not determined. This tall pattern of Britten was being shipped to the Confederacy on the blockade runner "Georgiana" which was sunk off the coast of South Carolina, all were lost at the time. Projectile measures: diameter 3.6in., length 8in. (excluding fuze), weight 17.5lbs. , weight is approximate. Research Center: Artillery3431-Britten, Ref: Dickey & George, Field Artillery (1993 Edition), pg. 120.     Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3431-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, solid bolt, pattern with short tapered nose, lead cup sabot, rifled 12 pounder, 4.62 in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. There is a ring around the nose which probably was left from it being clamped to the lathe, American producers tended to use knobs. Projectile measures: diameter 4.53in., length 7.25in. (excluding fuze), weight 25.1lbs. Research Center: Artillery3441-Britten, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 143.     Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3441-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with short tapered nose segmented interior, lead cup sabot, threaded for unknown fuze, rifled 12 pounder, 4.62 in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. There is a ring around the nose which probably was left from it being clamped to the lathe, American producers tended to use knobs. The area around the nose is segmented for maximum fragmentation, the rest of the core is smooth, and rounded bottom is very thin. Fuze hole is left hand threaded, and a significant flange with flat top is positioned on top, presumably to take a large flanged fuze. Projectile measures: diameter 4.55in., length 7.75in. weight 21lbs. Research Center: Artillery3442-Britten, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 144.     Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3442-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design with Confederate adaptation, Confederate manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with short tapered nose, lead cup sabot, wood fuze, Confederate rifled 24 pounder, 5.8in. Projectile was manufactured in the Confederacy following the English Britten design. Manufacturing details suggesting Confederate manufacture include the relatively rough casting, mill marks on the base are prominent and crude, and it has a wood fuze. Confederate foundry is believed to have been Eason Brothers, Charleston South Carolina. All have been recovered from Charleston. The design employed a large lead cup sabot. Cast for wood fuze . Projectile measures: diameter 5.8in., length 9in. (excluding fuze), weight 28lb. (missing sabot). Research Center: Artillery3451-Britten, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 147.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3451-Britten.html. |
| Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, bursting shell, pattern with short tapered nose segmented interior, lead cup sabot, wood fuze, rifled 32 pounder, 6.4 in. Projectile was manufactured by the English and exported to the American conflict, either side could purchase them, but primary use was southern. The design follows Britten's English patent, employing a lead cup sabot with a counter bulge or large concave teat that extends beyond the bottom. Fuze employed was a wood time fuze, Jones Fuzes pg. 2, fuze hole is smooth and tapered, the simple to make fuze could easily be hammered into place. Projectile measures: diameter 6.36in., length 11.0in. (excluding fuze), weight 57.1lbs Research Center: Artillery3461-Britten, Ref: Bell, Heavy Ordnance, pg. 148.    Details click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery3461-Britten.html. |
A0912...Rifled artillery projectile, Britten design, English manufacture, rifled 32 pounder, 6.4 in., fragment, lead sabot.    Sabot from 6.4 inch Britten This is fired sabot that separated from its shell. It shows 9 lands & grooves and the shape of the rounded bottom of the Britten shell. This massive sabot illustrates the violence and problems caused by the flying sabots. |
| Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War. Artillery Research center, artillery, click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery0000-Index.html.     Research center, artillery, click: http://relicman.com/artillery/Artillery0000-Index.html. |
| Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway, Civil War artillery, Relicman sales catalog. Click here: http://relicman.com/artillery/RelicmanSalesArtillery1.html.     Artillery for sale: http://relicman.com/artillery/RelicmanSalesArtillery1.html. |