It’s amazing what you come across when you look. I was diving out of Ascension Island a few years ago where I came across a 5.5 inch naval gun in its white casing on Cross Hill. I later discovered it came from HMS Hood, being installed on the island for defence in 1941. What a find!
I went to the Hulishan fort in Xiamen last year, It's a similar fort in same time period and preserved a 19th century 280mm Krupp gun said to be the last one of this large. It actually destroyed a Japanese destroyer during Japanese invasion in ww2
Boy, you can say that again. What possible factor lead to it NOT being melted down for scrap during the "Great Leap". We'll never know....but I'm sure it is a fascinating story...
As an American originally born in China, it brings me such pleasure knowing that Dr. Felton lived in my home country for 10 years! China is rich in history and culture, especially that of military history and that’s one of the reasons why I chose to major in History in University!
While I agree with your statements, I despise the CCP so much that I can’t visit china even if I wanted too. China might write some horrible history in the future.
One of my ancestors was a commander of a fort guarding the approaches to Amoy City in 1916 or thereabouts. I believe the artillery installed were Krupp guns.
As a Chinese, I am happy to see foreigners interested in these modern Chinese artillery. I wonder if you have photographed more inscriptions on the barrel? In fact, around 1876, the British Armstrong Company had transferred the technology of 4.7-inch, 6-inch, and 7-inch muzzle-loading rifle to Kiangnan (Jiangnan) Arsenal in Shanghai, China, so the artillery in the photo may be made in China.
I spent 9 years in Mongolia and had the chance to tour the battlefield around Kharkin Gol several times since we had a mining exploration permit out there. All kinds of cool stuff lying around (along with some decidedly un-cool unexploded ordnance.)
There are some Krupp naval guns (I think) in Nanning as well. I saw them in 2001. They were used for defence of the river, amongst other things, during some war/dispute back in the 1880s.
In chile, Talcahuano exactly, we have a war ship made in england from the 1860’s that todays works as a museum. The full metal Huascar is the pride of the Chilean navy for its beauty, simbolism and history. If you ever come to southamerica be sure not to miss it 😊
There are old British battery positions and forts all over Bermuda. I took a day in Hamilton and hiked all over seeing many when we were there a decade ago.
You can find more old guns at an old fort now museum in Xiamen. If I recall correctly, they have the only remaining pre-WWI Krupps cannons, bought from Germany in the 1890s, the rest having been melted down after the war.
Just 5 minutes from me is one of those Armstrong Guns at Fort Glanville Semaphore ,Adelaide , Prof Felton was alluding to. Even in the 1880's the early Settlers were worried about Russia
This reminded me of the time when I was 16 (and still a huge gun nerd) and my family and I took a trip to the Dominican Republic. One of the toll checkpoint soldiers saw me trying to look at his rifle from the back seat and he held it high over his head to show it to me, it was an M1 carbine and it was awesome. We visited an my dad's uncle who told us when he was in the Dominican Navy thay they issued them Stahlhelms
If you want to see more Chinese land-based naval artillery, I would recommend looking into the city of Humen at the mouth of the Pearl River. The Bocca Tigris naval fortress not only fought the British during the Opium Wars, but actively took part against Japan, notably a rare naval action on 14 September 1937.
Great video Mark always a joy to listen. I was recently in Thailand and when i was in Bangkok we visited a temple. I come across hundreds of British made cannons in a section in the temple. All different sizes and styles. Nothing explained why they are there or why they have them. I wonder if you know anything about it, i did Google it but it didn't say anything
Siam purchased lots of British artillery in the mid- to late-19th century. They also have Disappearing Guns covering Bangkok Harbour, though I missed them when I visited.
@@WarStorieswithMarkFelton thank you for the feedback Mark i was very surprised to see them but couldn't find any information about them. I also visited the bridge on the river kwai and paid my respects to the soldiers. It was a very strange feeling being there but such a beautiful setting. I know its not the real bridge as that was bombed in the war but i still walked it and took some great photos of it
@@WarStorieswithMarkFelton Hi Mark, could you please make one video about Nanjing Massacre in December 1937 during World War 2? Many thanks. 300,000 Nanjing people including my grand-uncle was killed by Japanese in Nanjing in December 1937. Chinese has never received any apology from Japan. This history shouldn't be forgotten! My mum was born in Nanjing in August 1937.
Speaking of odd discoveries... many years ago my family was visiting Magnetic Island, which is just off Townsville in Queensland. During a walk one day I was surprised to see a WW2 Japanese tripod mount machine-gun (either the Type 3 or the Type 92) in someone's driveway near the open gate! In fact, so surprised was I that without thinking I walked up the driveway to look at the gun. There must have been no-one at home. It was about a minute before my parents realised where I was and called out to me to come back.
Dr Fulton, there is fully restored cannon like these in Peru. It was used in the defence of El Callao on 2nd May 1866. It is fully operational for ceremonial use in that date.
I'm sure someone has already said it but 6 inch isn't 120mm ( which is 4.7 inch, also a popular Naval Caliber) it's actually 152mm. As you say they never really were satisfied with the Mark I but thats what you might expect after all it was the first breech loading Naval Gun of this size and they quickly moved on to the subsequent Mark II through Mark VI. It's a marvelous find Dr F ! Both this and the 64 pounder are in excellent shape I really hope we see more.
it is indeed fascinating what you find when you look. in my many travels across the USA on the back of a Motorcycle, I've come across many a relic like this. lots of tanks, lots of planes, lots of artillery pieces twice as old as the tanks or planes. sometimes it's an old Spanish fort.
12:04 the Chinese inscription here actually says: ‘Gun is under the protection of the engineering corp, Red Guard of Lindai.’ Which is quite surprising.
There is a paintball place about an hour outside of Shanghai, China. I visited in 2016, and just FYI, they have an ancient, hopefully defunct, heavy machine gun behind the front desk. I have no idea what kind it was, I presume a relic of the revolution, but it's waiting there to be rediscovered by historians.
I'm pretty sure that they have a good idea where everyone is and what they know about where the relics are is probably documented and they have made sure that no one is able to get the pieces they are going to need to use it. Especially if the world is on o
@@johnelliott7375 I don't think they would use the machine gun though, they currently not at war even with Taiwan despite the saber rattling. They probably see what happened with Russia and is happy at their current position of not waging war and doing business, for now especially they doing quite well despite Covid. My supplier is already recovered losses. Let's hope we avoid stupid wars.
@@ihatecabbage7270 UKR is getting alits butt kicked Europe is collapsing America is out of weapons and collapsing China supplies the world yeah China is terrified Russia has destroyed Europe without a shit fired
I was in the Navy in the early 70's and our WesPac Homeport was Subic Bay, Philippines. There was a small island at the entrance of the bay that was used a as recreational area. To my surprise there was old fortifications with two cannons that had a MFG date of 1904.
Yup, Fort Wint, Grande Island Subic Bay. Built by the US Army early 20th century. It had the following batteries: Warwick: 2x 10" guns on disappearing carriages; Woodruff & Hall: 2x 6" guns on disappearing carriages each; Flake & Jewell: 4x 3" guns on pintle mounts each. Some of the guns were moved to Fort Casey in Washington state in the 1960s.
This was a very informative and enjoyable post, l hope to see more about your time in China. I hope that for histories sake , these pieces are restored.
Mark Felton should visit the Hel peninsula north of Gdansk and Gdynia in Poland if he likes old naval gun emplacements. Lots of 440 mm guns used to be there but they were melted but some of the casemates and forts are still there.
I have long heard from some Chinese friends I know of that there are actually a few 19th-century Krupp cannons in a city called Wei Hai, modern day Shandong Province.
Very interesting video. There are several of these guns still in existence in UK, 2 in Plymouth alone. One B Loader on a moncrief mounting at Crownhill fort, and the other being a 6" RML on a replica mounting at Drakes Island in the middle of Plymouth sound. You can also see a 17.25" 100 ton RML the largest, and only one in the world, on a hydraulically operated mounting at Fort Rinella on the south east side of Valletta harbour in Malta.
During the American Civil War at the siege of Vicksburg in 1863 the Confederate garrison had a Blakely Rifled cannon designed by Capt. Theophilus A. Blakely of the British Army. The Confederate soldiers called it "the Widow Blakely" because it was the only gun of that type they had. Earlier in 1862 at Fort Pulaski in Savannah, Georgia the US Navy used modern rifled guns to great effect. You can still see holes in the walls from naval shells fired from Union warships. Most of the damage was caused by the modern rifled guns used by the Federals. The Confederate commander Col. Charles H. Olmstead could not fight back because the guns of Fort Pulaski were of the older smooth bore type and lacked the range of the Federal guns. He surrendered the fort to avoid further loss of life. Fort Pulaski, along with numerous other brick forts built along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coast were constructed after the War of 1812 and were designed to withstand the weapons of that era. By the time the American Civil War started in 1861 they were obsolete due to advances in artillery technology.
@@stevetilk4926 I have been to Charleston, S.C. but I did not visit Fort Sumter. I have however visited Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. There are constructions there all the way from the Revolutionary War to World War 2.
A 1878 RML was installed in Queen's Park, Toowoomba Queensland Australia in the early 1900's. To celebrate, it was fired with a blank cartridge, but still managed to demolish a greenhouse. The experiment was never repeated, so now it is the delight of various children of bloodthirsty demeanour. I believe it was constructed at the Woolwich Arsenal.
Nice find. My dad was in China in1945-46 with the USMC and he remembers seeing a lot of old things. I do have 3 Opium War medals to the 18th and 49th Foot.
My dad was with the army air corps 1943 - 45 with the Chinese American composite wing / third fighter group. Very rough times. He wrote a ongoing history while there, of which I have a copy.
Fascinating, you do find the little stories no one else tells. Have you done any videos on the Japanese relics in Micronesia? I saw a few things on Moen in the Truk lagoon, but I didnt know what I was looking at.
Great video thanks. Have you ever thought about doing a video on the two forts at the entrance to Cork Harbour? There are some really interesting gun in placements.
The anit ship ammunition for RML guns was Palliser Shot. Common and shrapnel were anti personnel along with cannister. However many 64 pounders were made by rifling 64 Pdr SBML guns. Almost looks like a later carriage mounted 64 Pdr or a 7" RML. The beer bottle look makes one want to do a bore check.
Mr Felton, my sincere compliments for bringing History on by YT/computer to us "temporarely Mortals" . As we only are temporarely part of the present, soon be History. I have visited many (militairy) museums, but your work completes my quest on so many levels. Is it WW 1 & 2, the German Kaiser in the Netherlands, or like this, some ( copied) guns on the other side of the Globe. Your research is outstanding. Many many thanks!
Mark if you have the time please check out the cannons in Eaglehawk, Central Victoria, Australia! We have 2 permanent cannon from the then HMS Nelson circa 1814. I believe they are RML’s? The ship itself was later recommissioned to the Victorian navy in 1867. There was also another 2 HMS Nelson cannon discovered in Rosiland Park in Bendigo in 1997 during restoration works of said park. I’m not sure of their model designation. 🇦🇺👍🏼
The 1880 6" gunlocks surprisingly in good condition. Even seems to have a fresh coat of paint. I do wonder how the Sandstone would hold up against a bombardment from an attacking ship.
I know that in Australia, there are many guns from around the late 1840’s early 1850’s still dotted around the coast that were erected due to fear of a Russian invasion.
Fascinating finds! I do hope the Chinese government sees the value in restoring and preserving these soon, it would be wonderful to see them up close and restored in a museum
I visited the fortifications around Humen (Tiger Gate) which guarded the Pearl River estuary into Guangzhou (Canton). Well preserved coastal battery with Qing era cannons on fixed mounts. But to my surprise there was a large mounted Krupp gun pointing out to the bay that was located inside a cave carved into a hill. There are also the pits where the Qing authorities burned the confiscated opium as well as a couple opium war museums. Mark I hope you had a chance to visit that place.
@@johnsamu well yeah its mainly meant to “patriotically” educate chinese tourists and one of many historic sites not really marketed to foreign tourists. The vast majority of tourists just visit the main battery, but a short distance down the coast there’s another battery which is located adjacent to a military barracks. It is referred to as the “corner or angle” gun battery. The british attacked this position as well during the opium war. The fortifications were later modernized and this is where i found the hidden krupp gun emplacement.
I am in Shaanxi province, if you have the chance to come back, there is an old little fortress that was used by the KMT leaders when chasing down Mao and his thugs into the mountains. There are MANY British cannons and other interesting relics.
Fascinating video!!! It’s always a good night when I have scotch, a cigar, and a new Mark Felton upload to watch. Tonight I traveled back in time to relics from the Opium Wars. Just magnificent!!!
I really think you are probably the one long running UA-camr that hasn't sunk into producing click bait. Bravo! Well done! Actually, it's astounding. It apparently becomes tempting to seduce subscribers for more and more views in order to keep the shop running. But, you simply bring on the facts instead of falling into that click bait pattern. And it's more than satisfying.
I wonder if the "palace" fort played any role in the Taiping Rebellion in China. This civil war started in 1850 led by a guy named Hong Xiuquan who was, (according to him anyway) the younger brother of Jesus Christ. He had his own rival dynasty called the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in southern China until his final defeat in 1864.
Mr. Felton, have you ever visited the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress in Finland? They have multiple of these types guns there on public display. They are not British built but by Imperial Russian, they do look remarkably similar to these Chinese ones.
Still like to see the story of Port Phillip Bay's defences in Victoria. Forts, manmade islands, disappearing guns and electric mines were all used. High tech stuff for the time.
This is a really cool and lucky find, good job! Speaking of under appreciated miltary history could you do more videos on the proper armoured trains? especially of the WW1/2 and later eras? They are insanely cool and really deserve a lot more lore and love by proper historians. there are two boks easily availeble on Amazon that are EXCELLENT sources on such juggernauts.
Up in South Korea they have a medieval era cannon the Koreans used as a coastal gun as late as the 19th century in their war museum. A US punitive force recorded it as part of the coastal defenses when they invaded along with several other guns of various provenance.
Doc, another delicious little little military history canape! 🙏 This time, I may have a soupcon to add; I work at Sydney's Garden Island Dockyard on Australia's East coast, and there is one of these Armstrong RML guns opposite the Naval Chapel. I used to walk past it every day, on my way to the Captain Cook Dry Dock (built 1939 - 45) from Building 89-90, an old magazine, complete with steel blast doors, converted to offices. I have often wondered at its rotund lines, as it is very different to the three muzzle-loaders you'll find, still on what I believe are their original wooden carriages, at Bradley's Head, just across the harbour.
You might find some British artillery pieces on the island of Betio, Tarawa Atoll, when the Japanese took Singapore they shipped some of the guns there. They were very effective, a little too effective for the Marines taste.
It’s amazing what you come across when you look. I was diving out of Ascension Island a few years ago where I came across a 5.5 inch naval gun in its white casing on Cross Hill. I later discovered it came from HMS Hood, being installed on the island for defence in 1941. What a find!
And what you come across when you least expect it.
A story on it's own
Once upon a time, wasn't there more than one? Will go check...
You are correct there was 2
@@SuperDiablo101Chi Na is💩 place to live
I went to the Hulishan fort in Xiamen last year, It's a similar fort in same time period and preserved a 19th century 280mm Krupp gun said to be the last one of this large. It actually destroyed a Japanese destroyer during Japanese invasion in ww2
Ironic, given the Japanese also made heavy use of the 280mm M1892 gun during the Russo-Japanese War!
@@masahige2344 golden kamuy vibes
@@masahige2344 lol have a taste of its own medicine
What a fantastic piece of history and an incredible find.
It is amazing that the canon was not melted during during the 'Great Leap Forward.'
Oh my goodness, so much culture lost just to be melted into shoddy steel.
Perhaps it survived because it was too heavy to move, given the diminished capabilities of revolutionary China.
Which probably such fate befell the companion guns
Boy, you can say that again. What possible factor lead to it NOT being melted down for scrap during the "Great Leap". We'll never know....but I'm sure it is a fascinating story...
As an American originally born in China, it brings me such pleasure knowing that Dr. Felton lived in my home country for 10 years! China is rich in history and culture, especially that of military history and that’s one of the reasons why I chose to major in History in University!
While I agree with your statements, I despise the CCP so much that I can’t visit china even if I wanted too. China might write some horrible history in the future.
@@accidentalgenius8252 You should visit Taiwan, the culture that was destroyed during the cultural revolution on the mainland was preserved there
You gotta change your handle in the settings! Now you're @expandedhistory991
@@greenkoopa what do you mean?
And anything is super great about China
👮🏽♂️
There are German guns in China from the boxer rebellion times. As described in William Manchesters book. The Arms of Krupp.
Which is a fantastic book!
@@Calligraphybooster Agreed!
The Nazi's helped China against the Japs before Ww2
Nazis? Prussians werent nazis.
One of my ancestors was a commander of a fort guarding the approaches to Amoy City in 1916 or thereabouts. I believe the artillery installed were Krupp guns.
As a Chinese, I am happy to see foreigners interested in these modern Chinese artillery. I wonder if you have photographed more inscriptions on the barrel? In fact, around 1876, the British Armstrong Company had transferred the technology of 4.7-inch, 6-inch, and 7-inch muzzle-loading rifle to Kiangnan (Jiangnan) Arsenal in Shanghai, China, so the artillery in the photo may be made in China.
Always a treat when I view a bit of history from the master story teller, Dr. Mark Felton !
I spent 9 years in Mongolia and had the chance to tour the battlefield around Kharkin Gol several times since we had a mining exploration permit out there. All kinds of cool stuff lying around (along with some decidedly un-cool unexploded ordnance.)
There are some Krupp naval guns (I think) in Nanning as well. I saw them in 2001. They were used for defence of the river, amongst other things, during some war/dispute back in the 1880s.
I swear I ever win the lottery I'm hiring you for tour guide on my trips around the globe
Now that is a cool idea.
@@shawnr771 imagine taking a tour of Omaha beach with Dr Felton.
@@F80mthree love too.
My sister n law got to go to Pointe du Hoc for the 75th Anniversary on a tour.
Count me in
*Get's a call at three thirty in the morning*
"Eyy we're going to Portugal pack up Mark"
In chile, Talcahuano exactly, we have a war ship made in england from the 1860’s that todays works as a museum. The full metal Huascar is the pride of the Chilean navy for its beauty, simbolism and history. If you ever come to southamerica be sure not to miss it 😊
¡Devuelvenlo ya! 😀😀😀
@tanteju noup😊
'Thank You, Chile!' for your help in the 1982 Falklands War
@@zen4men awww we didnt do that much
@@carlossuarez3445 It was of great importance, trust me
There are old British battery positions and forts all over Bermuda. I took a day in Hamilton and hiked all over seeing many when we were there a decade ago.
You can find more old guns at an old fort now museum in Xiamen. If I recall correctly, they have the only remaining pre-WWI Krupps cannons, bought from Germany in the 1890s, the rest having been melted down after the war.
Just 5 minutes from me is one of those Armstrong Guns at Fort Glanville Semaphore ,Adelaide , Prof Felton was alluding to. Even in the 1880's the early Settlers were worried about Russia
This reminded me of the time when I was 16 (and still a huge gun nerd) and my family and I took a trip to the Dominican Republic. One of the toll checkpoint soldiers saw me trying to look at his rifle from the back seat and he held it high over his head to show it to me, it was an M1 carbine and it was awesome. We visited an my dad's uncle who told us when he was in the Dominican Navy thay they issued them Stahlhelms
Attention! In german language, i am german, every helmet from 1915 onwards made of steel is a ,Stahlhelm'.
@@brittakriep2938 I see. Well the pictures he showed me looked like m35's that they'd painted more of a bluish grey
@@brittakriep2938Chi Na is 💩 place to live
Felton videos are the only thing on UA-cam where I just go ahead and click on it no matter what
Nice video as always. We have some old Armstrong cannons here in Norway at Seiersten Festning, in Drøbak erea. 😃
If you want to see more Chinese land-based naval artillery, I would recommend looking into the city of Humen at the mouth of the Pearl River. The Bocca Tigris naval fortress not only fought the British during the Opium Wars, but actively took part against Japan, notably a rare naval action on 14 September 1937.
Funnily enough I've been there myself. Lived and worked in Pinghu nearby. Didn't know the history behind it so that's fascinating
Great video Mark always a joy to listen. I was recently in Thailand and when i was in Bangkok we visited a temple. I come across hundreds of British made cannons in a section in the temple. All different sizes and styles. Nothing explained why they are there or why they have them. I wonder if you know anything about it, i did Google it but it didn't say anything
Siam purchased lots of British artillery in the mid- to late-19th century. They also have Disappearing Guns covering Bangkok Harbour, though I missed them when I visited.
@@WarStorieswithMarkFelton thank you for the feedback Mark i was very surprised to see them but couldn't find any information about them.
I also visited the bridge on the river kwai and paid my respects to the soldiers. It was a very strange feeling being there but such a beautiful setting. I know its not the real bridge as that was bombed in the war but i still walked it and took some great photos of it
In Chanthaburi there are 2 forts, i cannot recall if french or Thai. I cannot attach photos, but armstrong cannons are there
@@WarStorieswithMarkFelton Hi Mark, could you please make one video about Nanjing Massacre in December 1937 during World War 2? Many thanks.
300,000 Nanjing people including my grand-uncle was killed by Japanese in Nanjing in December 1937. Chinese has never received any apology from Japan. This history shouldn't be forgotten! My mum was born in Nanjing in August 1937.
@@WarStorieswithMarkFeltonChi Na is 💩 place to live today. That's why many Chinese move to US and Hongkonese move to UK
Speaking of odd discoveries... many years ago my family was visiting Magnetic Island, which is just off Townsville in Queensland. During a walk one day I was surprised to see a WW2 Japanese tripod mount machine-gun (either the Type 3 or the Type 92) in someone's driveway near the open gate! In fact, so surprised was I that without thinking I walked up the driveway to look at the gun. There must have been no-one at home. It was about a minute before my parents realised where I was and called out to me to come back.
Dr Fulton, there is fully restored cannon like these in Peru. It was used in the defence of El Callao on 2nd May 1866. It is fully operational for ceremonial use in that date.
I'm sure someone has already said it but 6 inch isn't 120mm ( which is 4.7 inch, also a popular Naval Caliber) it's actually 152mm. As you say they never really were satisfied with the Mark I but thats what you might expect after all it was the first breech loading Naval Gun of this size and they quickly moved on to the subsequent Mark II through Mark VI. It's a marvelous find Dr F ! Both this and the 64 pounder are in excellent shape I really hope we see more.
it is indeed fascinating what you find when you look. in my many travels across the USA on the back of a Motorcycle, I've come across many a relic like this. lots of tanks, lots of planes, lots of artillery pieces twice as old as the tanks or planes. sometimes it's an old Spanish fort.
Such a great story. Perfectly complemented my train ride this morning. Thanks Dr. Felton
12:04 the Chinese inscription here actually says: ‘Gun is under the protection of the engineering corp, Red Guard of Lindai.’ Which is quite surprising.
There is a paintball place about an hour outside of Shanghai, China. I visited in 2016, and just FYI, they have an ancient, hopefully defunct, heavy machine gun behind the front desk. I have no idea what kind it was, I presume a relic of the revolution, but it's waiting there to be rediscovered by historians.
“Hopefully” it would jus be oh so terrible if Chinese citizens had the right to keep and bear arms right? You’re clearly not American lmfao, weak 👎
I'm pretty sure that they have a good idea where everyone is and what they know about where the relics are is probably documented and they have made sure that no one is able to get the pieces they are going to need to use it. Especially if the world is on o
@@johnelliott7375 yes, it’s a dictatorship
@@johnelliott7375 I don't think they would use the machine gun though, they currently not at war even with Taiwan despite the saber rattling. They probably see what happened with Russia and is happy at their current position of not waging war and doing business, for now especially they doing quite well despite Covid. My supplier is already recovered losses.
Let's hope we avoid stupid wars.
@@ihatecabbage7270 UKR is getting alits butt kicked Europe is collapsing America is out of weapons and collapsing China supplies the world yeah China is terrified Russia has destroyed Europe without a shit fired
Dr Felton mentioned that several 64-pounders survive in Australia, and the Zhapu gun looks very much like the guns at Port Fairy in Victoria.
I was in the Navy in the early 70's and our WesPac Homeport was Subic Bay, Philippines. There was a small island at the entrance of the bay that was used a as recreational area. To my surprise there was old fortifications with two cannons that had a MFG date of 1904.
Yup, Fort Wint, Grande Island Subic Bay. Built by the US Army early 20th century. It had the following batteries: Warwick: 2x 10" guns on disappearing carriages; Woodruff & Hall: 2x 6" guns on disappearing carriages each; Flake & Jewell: 4x 3" guns on pintle mounts each. Some of the guns were moved to Fort Casey in Washington state in the 1960s.
When you mentioned Subic Bay I knew immediately it would be Grande Island. Been there in the late 70's
I was in Nanning in 2007 and stumbled on an old Krupps gun in a city park apparently installed by local war lords many years ago.
MARK IS THE GENIUS.
This was a very informative and enjoyable post, l hope to see more about your time in China. I hope that for histories sake , these pieces are restored.
Mark Felton should visit the Hel peninsula north of Gdansk and Gdynia in Poland if he likes old naval gun emplacements. Lots of 440 mm guns used to be there but they were melted but some of the casemates and forts are still there.
Loved visiting the old muzzle/breech loading Armstrongs in Bermuda, whilst I was out there. Wish I was still there.....
There's a very similar Armstrong gun from the same era close to my home. If you want to see it closer like 1 or 2ft away you can come to Taiwan
I have long heard from some Chinese friends I know of that there are actually a few 19th-century Krupp cannons in a city called Wei Hai, modern day Shandong Province.
Dagu / Taku fort south of Tianjin has a massive rifled muzzle loader.
Your videos are always fascinating! Love your work!!
Very interesting video. There are several of these guns still in existence in UK, 2 in Plymouth alone. One B Loader on a moncrief mounting at Crownhill fort, and the other being a 6" RML on a replica mounting at Drakes Island in the middle of Plymouth sound. You can also see a 17.25" 100 ton RML the largest, and only one in the world, on a hydraulically operated mounting at Fort Rinella on the south east side of Valletta harbour in Malta.
Very interesting. Always the best. Thanks Mark!
I love the on the ground reporting Dr. Felton! Thank you! (And please make a video on CARINHALL)
I'm a simple creature. I hear Mark say "Nun Wun Gun", I'm happy
Very interesting account of something that I knew very little about. Thanks Dr. Felton.
During the American Civil War at the siege of Vicksburg in 1863 the Confederate garrison had a Blakely Rifled cannon designed by Capt. Theophilus A. Blakely of the British Army. The Confederate soldiers called it "the Widow Blakely" because it was the only gun of that type they had. Earlier in 1862 at Fort Pulaski in Savannah, Georgia the US Navy used modern rifled guns to great effect. You can still see holes in the walls from naval shells fired from Union warships. Most of the damage was caused by the modern rifled guns used by the Federals. The Confederate commander Col. Charles H. Olmstead could not fight back because the guns of Fort Pulaski were of the older smooth bore type and lacked the range of the Federal guns. He surrendered the fort to avoid further loss of life. Fort Pulaski, along with numerous other brick forts built along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coast were constructed after the War of 1812 and were designed to withstand the weapons of that era. By the time the American Civil War started in 1861 they were obsolete due to advances in artillery technology.
I was at Fort Sumpter this past weekend and I saw a Blakely cannon there as well.
@@stevetilk4926 I have been to Charleston, S.C. but I did not visit Fort Sumter. I have however visited Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. There are constructions there all the way from the Revolutionary War to World War 2.
Mr Felton thank you very much for doing what you do you alone have intrigued my interest into history itself again thank you
A 1878 RML was installed in Queen's Park, Toowoomba Queensland Australia in the early 1900's. To celebrate, it was fired with a blank cartridge, but still managed to demolish a greenhouse. The experiment was never repeated, so now it is the delight of various children of bloodthirsty demeanour. I believe it was constructed at the Woolwich Arsenal.
Great coverage, thank you.
Nice find. My dad was in China in1945-46 with the USMC and he remembers seeing a lot of old things. I do have 3 Opium War medals to the 18th and 49th Foot.
My dad was with the army air corps 1943 - 45 with the Chinese American composite wing / third fighter group. Very rough times. He wrote a ongoing history while there, of which I have a copy.
Fascinating, you do find the little stories no one else tells.
Have you done any videos on the Japanese relics in Micronesia?
I saw a few things on Moen in the Truk lagoon, but I didnt know what I was looking at.
Thank you for sharing this fascinating bit of history!
Great video thanks. Have you ever thought about doing a video on the two forts at the entrance to Cork Harbour? There are some really interesting gun in placements.
The anit ship ammunition for RML guns was Palliser Shot. Common and shrapnel were anti personnel along with cannister. However many 64 pounders were made by rifling 64 Pdr SBML guns. Almost looks like a later carriage mounted 64 Pdr or a 7" RML. The beer bottle look makes one want to do a bore check.
Well done Sir.
Excellent.
Keep up with the great work.
Thank you very much.😊
🙋♂️🐈👍✌️
I am amazed by the Pearl's Dr. Felton finds. Never ending.
*pearls
"Historical Battle Damage" sounds like something straight out of Kung Fu Panda, ironically.
Mr Felton, my sincere compliments for bringing History on by YT/computer to us "temporarely Mortals" . As we only are temporarely part of the present, soon be History.
I have visited many (militairy) museums, but your work completes my quest on so many levels. Is it WW 1 & 2, the German Kaiser in the Netherlands, or like this, some ( copied) guns on the other side of the Globe. Your research is outstanding. Many many thanks!
Very nice pronunciation Mark. Especially the Cantonese. 👍
Mark if you have the time please check out the cannons in Eaglehawk, Central Victoria, Australia! We have 2 permanent cannon from the then HMS Nelson circa 1814. I believe they are RML’s? The ship itself was later recommissioned to the Victorian navy in 1867. There was also another 2 HMS Nelson cannon discovered in Rosiland Park in Bendigo in 1997 during restoration works of said park. I’m not sure of their model designation. 🇦🇺👍🏼
The 1880 6" gunlocks surprisingly in good condition. Even seems to have a fresh coat of paint. I do wonder how the Sandstone would hold up against a bombardment from an attacking ship.
I know that in Australia, there are many guns from around the late 1840’s early 1850’s still dotted around the coast that were erected due to fear of a Russian invasion.
Your videos never disappoint.
Another great video, and pertinent to today’s time ! Thanks Dr Felton
Great stuff as always Herr Doktor, Thanks!
Similar guns on Flat Holm an Island in the Bristol channel off Barry. They had Moncrief mounting and the magazine is still intact.
Very neat! Thanks for sharing Dr Mark! JJ
Fascinating finds! I do hope the Chinese government sees the value in restoring and preserving these soon, it would be wonderful to see them up close and restored in a museum
Hey thanks Mark I was field artillery in the army and I always like seeing the big guns.
Would still like to find the "missing" White Russian armored train last seen in the 1940's
Excellent video attention to detail is second to none🍻I very much enjoyed this video
I visited the fortifications around Humen (Tiger Gate) which guarded the Pearl River estuary into Guangzhou (Canton). Well preserved coastal battery with Qing era cannons on fixed mounts. But to my surprise there was a large mounted Krupp gun pointing out to the bay that was located inside a cave carved into a hill. There are also the pits where the Qing authorities burned the confiscated opium as well as a couple opium war museums. Mark I hope you had a chance to visit that place.
I visited this fort in 2011, it's a real tourist attraction (for Chinese tourists).
@@johnsamu well yeah its mainly meant to “patriotically” educate chinese tourists and one of many historic sites not really marketed to foreign tourists. The vast majority of tourists just visit the main battery, but a short distance down the coast there’s another battery which is located adjacent to a military barracks. It is referred to as the “corner or angle” gun battery. The british attacked this position as well during the opium war. The fortifications were later modernized and this is where i found the hidden krupp gun emplacement.
I am in Shaanxi province, if you have the chance to come back, there is an old little fortress that was used by the KMT leaders when chasing down Mao and his thugs into the mountains. There are MANY British cannons and other interesting relics.
Fascinating video!!! It’s always a good night when I have scotch, a cigar, and a new Mark Felton upload to watch. Tonight I traveled back in time to relics from the Opium Wars. Just magnificent!!!
We need a Mark Felton & Ian McCollum crossover video!
Ian said he’s a subscriber. So he will probably see this one.
Amazing. Thanks for your videos.
Amazing, I hope these places of history can be preserved!
Excellent find, Mark!
EXCELLENT JOB WELL DONE 👏 ✔️ 👍 GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS DEAR SIR 👍
I really think you are probably the one long running UA-camr that hasn't sunk into producing click bait.
Bravo! Well done! Actually, it's astounding. It apparently becomes tempting to seduce subscribers for more and more views in order to keep the shop running. But, you simply bring on the facts instead of falling into that click bait pattern.
And it's more than satisfying.
And the fact that he keeps coming up with new material helps prevent that descent. This is great stuff.
Wow ,great presentation, thank you.
fantastic, thank you
I wonder if the "palace" fort played any role in the Taiping Rebellion in China. This civil war started in 1850 led by a guy named Hong Xiuquan who was, (according to him anyway) the younger brother of Jesus Christ. He had his own rival dynasty called the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in southern China until his final defeat in 1864.
thats quite a leap of a almost couple thousand years to be JC's younger Brother lol
I did some googling it's in Chinese 天妃宮炮台(palace for godness) so palace in here means literal 'palace'
Amazing, never knew you lived for 10 Years in the PRC :O
Would be amazing to hear more Stories of your China Adventure Mark (:
Thank you Mark. I encourage you to continue bringing us the unknown portions of the Opium Wars.
There is more we don't know than we do.
Cheers!
fantastic. Can't believe you waited 10 years to make this vid!
Mr. Felton, have you ever visited the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress in Finland? They have multiple of these types guns there on public display. They are not British built but by Imperial Russian, they do look remarkably similar to these Chinese ones.
That is amazing. Dr, did you wonder if your had slipped into a wrinkle in the space time continuum? Thank you, as always.
Malaysia has a few around Malacca (both British and Dutch.. and a few that changed hands between both)
Still like to see the story of Port Phillip Bay's defences in Victoria. Forts, manmade islands, disappearing guns and electric mines were all used. High tech stuff for the time.
Thank you Mark.☺
Amazing, so much is still intact.
You mentioned a search for “artifacts”.
Did this include any beach combing, or metal detecting?
I’d love to hear about even the smallest of finds.
This is a really cool and lucky find, good job!
Speaking of under appreciated miltary history could you do more videos on the proper armoured trains? especially of the WW1/2 and later eras? They are insanely cool and really deserve a lot more lore and love by proper historians. there are two boks easily availeble on Amazon that are EXCELLENT sources on such juggernauts.
Thank you Mark Felton, this brought back my interest in Qing Dynasty history.
Very good job with the pronunciation of Chinese names!
Another great video.
Up in South Korea they have a medieval era cannon the Koreans used as a coastal gun as late as the 19th century in their war museum. A US punitive force recorded it as part of the coastal defenses when they invaded along with several other guns of various provenance.
Doc, another delicious little little military history canape! 🙏
This time, I may have a soupcon to add; I work at Sydney's Garden Island Dockyard on Australia's East coast, and there is one of these Armstrong RML guns opposite the Naval Chapel. I used to walk past it every day, on my way to the Captain Cook Dry Dock (built 1939 - 45) from Building 89-90, an old magazine, complete with steel blast doors, converted to offices. I have often wondered at its rotund lines, as it is very different to the three muzzle-loaders you'll find, still on what I believe are their original wooden carriages, at Bradley's Head, just across the harbour.
they also have a rebuilt ironclad. haven’t visited there yet
You might find some British artillery pieces on the island of Betio, Tarawa Atoll, when the Japanese took Singapore they shipped some of the guns there. They were very effective, a little too effective for the Marines taste.
There are some Armstrong guns in at least one Qing fort in Taiwan.