GDG- Cannon Fire

[Margaret D. Blough]

There are definite differences between artillery firing blanks and those shooting live rounds, which is why Charlie Smithgall, who was artillery advisor to "The Movie", insisted that the sounds for the pre-Pickett's charge artillery be recorded at N-SSA's HQ facility Fort Shenandoah near Winchester.  N-SSA black-powder target shooting competitions (CW model weapons, usually reproductions now) include artillery. IIRR, the powder load is 1/4 that of a combat load because of the size limitations of the N-SSA's firing range for artillery.  The physics of shooting a live round also produces a much more pronounced recoil.

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Bob Coffman - Info From Data Corp." <bcoffman at infofromdata.com> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> >sound / loudness (decibals) be the same between a demonstration today and 
> an actual firing of the cannon 
> 
> I believe they typically use less gunpowder for demonstrations/reenactments. 
> I'm not sure if the noise that resulted was affected by having shells 
> loaded. 
> 
> >How much would the cannon actually recoil? 
> 
> They recoiled quite a bit, and were usually rolled back into place. I am 
> aware of at least one exception to that, and that is "retiring by prolong" 
> where the piece could be fired as it retreated, dragged by the "prolongs" or 
> ropes tied to the back of the piece and attached to the limbers. In this 
> case the recoil would assist in moving the piece in the direction it was 
> headed. This was a drastic, last ditch type of maneuver. 
> 
> - Bob Coffman 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com] 
> On Behalf Of The Mills 
> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 2:16 PM 
> To: GDG 
> Subject: GDG- Cannon Fire 
> 
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> Hello All: 
> 
> I was wondering if anyone could give some descriptions of cannon fire for 
> the various cannons used at Gettysburg, and here is what I am wondering. 
> 
> When I see a cannon demonstration today at the park, they are obviously not 
> using live ammunition and I am wondering how different it really is from a 
> "real" firing of the gun as had been fired during the battle. 
> 
> For instance: are they using the same amount of gunpowder (same type, etc), 
> and would the sound / loudness (decibals) be the same between a 
> demonstration today and an actual firing of the cannon? I assume the 
> cannons wouldn't simply remain stationary, that there would be some sort of 
> recoiling. How much would the cannon actually recoil? If they did, would 
> the gun crews then roll them back to their original locations, or just fire 
> them from where they stopped, so in essence, after say 10 - 15 shots, the 
> cannon might be 100 yards from their original deployment? 
> 
> Also: how was it different for a smoothbore Napoleon vs. the rifled cannon? 
> 
> Any help is appreciated. 
> 
> Thanks 
> Andy 
> 
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