15" Smoothbore Rodman Gun - Fort Pickens - Pensacola, FL
N 30° 19.637 W 087° 17.479
16R E 471995 N 3355087
15" Smoothbore Rodman Gun mounted on a center pintle barbette carriage.
Waymark Code: WMVBM4
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 03/28/2017
Views: 4
This 15" Smoothbore Rodman Gun is located atop the Tower Bastion on the western side of Fort Pickens. A 15" Rodman like the one displayed was installed here in 1868. Its purpose was to protect the entrance to Pensacola Harbor. It was never fired in combat.
"Rodman gun" refers to a series of American Civil War–era cannon designed by Union artilleryman Thomas Jackson Rodman. The guns were designed to fire both shot and shell. These heavy guns were intended to be mounted in seacoast fortifications. They were built in 8-inch, 10-inch, 13-inch, 15-inch, and 20-inch bores. Other than size, the guns were all nearly identical in design, with a curving bottle shape, large flat areas with ratchets or sockets for the elevating mechanism. Rodman guns differed from all previous artillery because they were hollow cast using a water cooled core, a new technology that Rodman developed that resulted in cast iron guns that were much stronger than their predecessors. (As a retired foundry engineer I would love to have seen one being cast.)
This Rodman gun is mounted on a wrought iron coastal defense carriage. Served by a crew of 15, this smooth-bore gun could fire a 434 pound ball a distance of 4.5 miles.
What type of artillery is this?: 15" Smoothbore Rodman Gun
Where is this artillery located?: Monument grounds
What military of the world used this device?: USA, CSA
Artillery is no longer operational: yes
Still may work: no
Date artillery was in use: Not listed
Date artillery was placed on display: Not listed
Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed
Cost?: Not Listed
Are there any geocaches at this location?: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Two pictures are required for this Waymark. Please take a close up picture of the artillery. Take a second with the artillery in the distance and capture as much of the surroundings as possible. Name the Waymark with first the name of the area and second what the artillery is. An example would be if it were a cannon in front of the Montgomery Armory you would name the Waymark: Montgomery Armory Cannon.