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RML 64-pounder 64 cwt gun

The RML 64-pounder 64 cwt gun is a Rifled, Muzzle Loading (RML) naval, field or fortification artillery gun manufactured in England in the 19th century, which fired a projectile weighing approximately . "64 cwt" refers to the gun's weight rounded up to differentiate it from other "64-pounder" guns.

Description

The calibre of was chosen to enable it to fire remaining stocks of spherical shells originally made for the obsolete 32 pounder guns if necessary.

Mark I (adopted in 1864) and Mark II (adopted 1866) guns, and Mark III guns made from 1867 – April 1871 had wrought-iron inner "A" tubes surrounded by wrought-iron coils.

Mark III guns made after April 1871 were built with toughened mild steel "A" tubes, and earlier Mark III guns were re-tubed with steel and were classified as a siege gun in land service. Remaining guns with iron tubes were used for sea service.

Rifling of all guns consisted of 3 grooves, with a uniform twist of 1 turn in 40 calibres (i.e. 1 turn in ).

Ammunition

The gun's standard shell was "common shell", for firing on troops in cover, ships and buildings, weighed when empty with a bursting charge of . Shrapnel shells could also be fired; a shell with a bursting charge propelling 234 metal balls.

Surviving Examples of Guns

Surviving Examples of Ammunition

  • RML 64pdr shell that has been fired, and RML 64 fuse at Fort Lytton Historic Military Precinct, Brisbane, Australia
  • RML 64pdr Mark I shell (no fuse) is held in the collection of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra

See also

Notes and references

Bibliography

External links