Great Britain
Britten
DIAMETER: 3.45 inches
GUN: 12-pounder Blakely rifle, 3.5-inch caliber
LENGTH: 5 7/8 inches
WEIGHT: 11 pounds 8 ounces
CONSTRUCTION: Solid shot
SABOT: Lead cup
FUZING:
None
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Great Britain
DIAMETER: 3.45 inches |
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| This is the standard-style shot for the 12-pounder (3.5-inch caliber) Blakely rifled cannon. According to Bashley Britten's British patent #1740, dated August 1, 1855, "The method of coating the projectiles with soft metal in such a manner as to stand the explosive force of the powder is as follows:--The iron is first coated with zinc by the process commonly known as the galvanising process, and while sufficiently hot to keep the zinc in a fuzed state on its surface, it is plunged into a mould or vessel of suitable form containing the lead or other soft metal in a fuzed state, and then allowed to get cold." Fired specimens have nearly always been found with their lead sabots intact. | ||||