Also known as: swivel.
| Type | Small pivot-mounted gun |
|---|---|
| Mount | A swivel allowing quick training |
| Use | Boats, walls, and close defense |
The pivot gun
A swivel gun was a small piece mounted on a swivel or pivot, often set into a rail, wall, or the side of a boat, so that one man could train it rapidly across a wide arc. It fired shot or a load of small projectiles at close range.
An old type by the Civil War, the swivel gun persisted for close defense of small vessels, walls, and works, where its quick handling was more useful than range or weight of fire.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: cannon identification pages, manuals, and reports.