M1861 3-inch Ordnance Rifle - Field Artillery Museum - Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Posted by: gparkes
N 34° 39.943 W 098° 23.111
14S E 556330 N 3836145
The Field Artillery Museum located at Fort Sill in Oklahoma has a lot of very interesting items just waiting to be discovered by you.
Waymark Code: WM9E31
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 08/08/2010
Views: 5
An information card near this cannon reads:
M1861 3-inch Ordnance Rifle
1862
Made of very durable wrought iron, the 3-inch Ordnance Rifle was the most widely used rifled cannon of the war. John Griffen, an ingenious ironworker, created the first one in 1855. During Army testing the next year, the gun survived testing until overloaded with seven times the normal powder charge and thirteen balls. Extremely accurate and weighing 400 lbs. less than the Napoleon, it was a favorite of the horse artillery units. It had a range of 1,830 yards at 5 degrees elevation. Phoenix Iron Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania made this gun in 1862.
A "new" technique was discovered for improvements to cannons and rifles came on the scene just prior to the American Civil War. Rifling the barrel and creating a twist to the ordnance as it was fired down the tube, gave a greater accuracy and range. A photograph in the gallery shows the twist in the barrel.
Admission is free, and access to Fort Sill can be done through the visitor's gate. Be sure to have your license, registration and proof of insurance available, because you are almost certain to be asked for. From the gate, you can ask for direction. At you first stop, you can get a map of important sites on the base. Be sure to go to plan additional time to go to the Indian Cemeteries. There you will find the graves of different Indian Tribes, including Geranimo. There are many sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, from the old fort, cemeteries, and aviation related locations. Fort Sill can easily be a place to visit for a couple hours, or for the entire day.