The picture above is of the Columbiad canon. It's initial cost prevented it from being commonly used. Design changes lowered the price and made it more available. The United States was the only country that widely used the Columbiad. Prior to the Civil War, Officer Thomas Jackson Rodman made a design change to the Columbiad, so it took the name the Rodman gun. The Rodman design carried over to many other types of canons. The Confederate States used the canon heavily during the Civil War, but most Columbiads were confiscated by the Union. After The Civil War, the canons were placed in coastal forts because of their ability to easily pierce a ship's hull. It was heavily used again during the War of 1812 by the Americans as a coastal canon because of its long range and powerful shells. The Columbiad could fire a forty pound cannon ball up to fire five miles. Stationery models not designed to pivot had a more limited its firing range. Due to their large size, the cannons were not usually moved after being mounted. A smaller more portable design of the Columbiad could fire forty pound shells 5000 yards. The impressive range and power of the Columbiad made it a weapon an opposing navy would fear coming up against. However, as ship's hulls got stronger, the Columbiad was eventually phased out of the army and replaced by newer, stronger canons.
I really found this information interesting and informative. The pictures were also very good. I like that you used two pictures, each from different angles. It helped me better grasp what the cannon looks like.
ReplyDeleteI liked how much history you included, even the thing about the economy part. I liked your pictures, too, since they're real photos.
ReplyDeleteI like your analysis on this cannon-- it was very concise and informative. You included all the effects (economic and otherwise)and I liked how you explained why the cannon no longer proved usefull.
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