The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Armstrong Gun at Fort Fisher, NC

Armstrong guns were developed by Englishman Sir William Armstrong (1810-1900).

He also established the Armstrong Whitworth manufacturing empire. Both the Armstrong and Whitworth guns were very advanced examples of artillery and both used at Fort Fisher and the defense of the Cape Fear River. The Whitworths were especially useful in driving off blockaders when blockade-runners ran aground.

He first got involved in artillery during the Crimean War.

The company had problems building breech-loading cannons. In 1859, tests were conducted that showed breech-loading cannons were not powerful enough to penetrate iron.

Actually, I wasn't able to find too much on Sir William.

Make me a Big Gun. --Old B-Runner.

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