Also known as: Whitworth gun.
| Type | British rifled gun with a twisted hexagonal bore |
|---|---|
| 12-pounder bore | 2.75 inches |
| Loading | Both breech-loading and muzzle-loading examples served |
| Reputation | Exceptional range and accuracy |
The hexagonal-bore gun
The Whitworth rifle was the British gun designed by Sir Joseph Whitworth, using a twisted hexagonal bore into which a flat-sided projectile fitted mechanically. The 12-pounder had a 2.75-inch caliber, and both breech-loading and muzzle-loading Whitworths reached the war.
Its precision manufacture gave it extraordinary range and accuracy, and imported Whitworths were prized as long-range and sharpshooting guns, though ammunition and mechanical complexity limited their numbers.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: cannon identification pages, manuals, and reports.
- United States Army, Ordnance Department. The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1862.