12.5 inch RML Technical Details
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- Опубліковано 14 лип 2023
- Some notes on the technical features of the 12.5 in 38 ton Rifled Muzzle Loaded gun from 1885, covering the mechanism in the gun carriage and fitted to the platform. The method of building the gun from wrought iron rod and constructing it using concentric coils to pre-stress the inner parts are illustrated in concept - there is no guarantee that the actual machinery used at the time bear any resemblance to that shown in the movie - concepts only. Gun design is covered briefly, concentrating on showing how internal pressure was measured using crusher gauges fitted to test guns. Finally, a method of measuring muzzle velocity is shown, and a hint given for the mathematics needed to calculate velocities at different ranges, which in turn resulted in range tables used for actual firings.
When watching this animation, bear in mind the technology available at the time. No computers , no electronics, rudimentary electrics (wet cell batteries). So measuring time (for muzzle velocity) used the known constant - gravity. Electric motors would be subject to speed variations depending on the state of the batteries. However, the level of mechanical skills were impressive. Machinery capable of finishing to an accuracy of a few thousandths of an inch on rotating masses weighing several tons were available, as were the artisans. Even more impressive was the level of mathematical skills needed to calculate the stresses that would be experienced in a gun, to determine the thickness of the coils, and the actual dimensions to be machined so that outer coils would shrink onto inner coils and so pre-stress them, while at the same time expanding sufficiently so that heated outer coil could be slipped over an inner component. Range tables were calculated laboriously by hand or with primitive calculating machines.
The other thing to note is that these guns were still using Gunpowder - an explosive. The Mark 1 gun used pebble powder - gunpowder compressed into small cubes in an attempt to slow down the explosion and so reduce the rate of gas generation. The Mark II gun would use Prismatic gunpowder, where the explosive was formed into larger prisms, slowing down the rate of burning still further but also requiring a longer barrel to ensure all the powder was burnt before the shell left the barrel.
This animation was created using Cinema 4D, Quicktime and iMovie.
Music: Modern Situations by Unicorn hHeads
References:
Handbook for the R.M.L 12.5 inch 38-ton Gun, Marks I and II, 1885
Treatise on the Manufacture of Guns and Text-Book of Service Ordnance, 1886
Treatise on the Construction and Manufacture of Ordnance in the British Service, 1877
Proof that artillery (and to a lesser extent also long-distance rifle shooting) is weaponized mathematics.
The attention to production details is nothing short of stunning really. Nothing compares to this on youtube!
Never seen how the Chronography was done in this era before so that was even more interesting to see than the gun. The gun itself is a marvel of industrial tooling and forging tech and highlights why many nations had to buy (often from the UK) things like guns and ships as they lacked the industrial capacity to make the tools needed to make the tools needed to make the guns and armor.
This is incredible, not just in the animation, but in the information it imparted. Please keep up the excellent work.
best quality work as usual, glad to see you posting again!
I have often marvelled at the 10 inch 20 ton RML guns at Fort Glanville, Adelaide, South Australia, but I hadn't realised how much was going on in the manufacture of similar huge guns. It is also fascinating to learn how they were proofed and calibrated; such ingenuity for the 19th century ! Thanks for the (yet another) interesting and informative video !
Excellent demonstration of how a built-up gun is made
Wonderful detail! I had no idea of the complexity and precision of these classic artillery pieces. Even the velocity test equipment were surprisingly sophisticated in this pre-electronic age. The animations made the whole thing super easy to understand. Well done!
WOW... I really enjoyed all the math... MINDBLOWING... I hit the pause like 80 times, rewind like 200 times...LOL... this was just amazing to see such massive numbers on one of these large bore calibers... Thank you for taking the time to show case this info..
Thank you for removing some of the mystery of York Redoubt fortifications through your beautiful animations. Armstrong guns have fascinated me since I first laid eyes on them when I was a boy of eight years. As far as I know York Redoubt is one of the few locations with these guns in the whole continent in any state of preservation.
Outstanding work - both the gun, and the explanations / calculations. This is the kind of material that history lessons should be using.
Fantastic Rob! The time to cycle such a weapon is so easily overlooked... The crews would be working hard!
Amazing work.
While I really enjoy all of your "How it works" videos, this one that went into the details on how it's built an tested was even better! Hope you keep making them, and if you do this for fun as an hobby and take a while on completing one, that's OK. I can wait for quality ones like this!
Wow
It’s amazing how in retrospect some things are seemingly obvious. They had the industrial and technical capabilities to design and build this piece of hardware, yet they didn’t breech-load it.
Still waiting for the Great German 88. And best quality video as always.
Another quality video and graphics. Excellent as always,well done.
My respect for men who did these type of things back before our high tech era.
Thank you for adding the additional information on construction techniques and the calibration procedures! :)