32-Pounder Carronade - Fort Macon State Park, NC
N 34° 41.797 W 076° 40.750
18S E 346202 N 3840682
32-pounder carronade representing the six that were in Fort Macon in 1862.
Waymark Code: WMRN5H
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 07/11/2016
Views: 4
The carronade was designed as a short-range naval weapon with a low muzzle velocity for merchant ships, but it also found a niche role on warships. It was produced by the Carron ironworks and was at first sold as a system with the gun, mounting, and shot all together. The standard package of shot per gun was 25 roundshot, 15 barshot, 15 double-headed shot, 10 "single" grapeshot, and 10 "single" canister shot. "Single" meant that the shot weighed the same as the roundshot, while some other canister and grapeshot were also included which weighed one and a half times the roundshot. (From Wikipedia)
When controlled by the Confederacy, Fort Macon mounted six 32-pounder carronades in counterfire batteries inside the outer walls. They could fire on enemy troops who had entered the dry moat between the inner and outer walls.
During the Union siege of Fort Macon in April 1862 the fort had no mortars to lob exploding shells into the Union trenches and emplacements. The Confederates moved the six carronades to the top of the outer wall, elevated them to 40 degrees and used them as an improvised mortar battery.
What type of artillery is this?: Carronade
Where is this artillery located?: Monument grounds
What military of the world used this device?: US, CSA, Britain
Artillery is no longer operational: no
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
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Visit Instructions:
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