Thank you for the video👍 The howitzer seems like a great compromise between portability and firepower. The idea of a double canister load being fired at a line of soldiers just gives me the chills.
Wonderful and, again, comprehensive video. This is the first time I have seen the inside of a mortar. Thanks for showing it and explaining where the powder went. Thanks for explaining the difference between mortars and howitzers. Thanks for discussing different types of shells. Thanks for going through the steps to load and fire the howitzer. Firing an artillery piece, with or without a shell, is still very neat. Your videos are so well done, professional and informative, it is always a pleasure to see a new one posted. You bring great joy to a one legged historian in Arizona who will never visit your museum. Thank you!
Well done JYF Museums, your cannoneer has wit and charm and spun a humorous yarn, yep, I'm blown away! And I have noticed that the various state police agencies seem to have zero chill about cannons.
I remember on a tour of Yorktown the guide stated that when doing a renovation of the mayor's house they found howitzer shells in the walls that had been fired by Contintal troops or French. The shells had to be removed and disarmed. They were then returned to the spot in the wall they were removed from.
Thank you for a fun and interesting video with just the right amount of info. I've never seen a howitzer of that sort featured although there are plenty of videos of mortars and cannon. Your presenter is very easy to listen to!
Thank you for such a very informative video, that answered a lot of questions, about 18th century artillery. Thank you for explaining, in detail, about 18th century ordinance.
Explosive shells had to be relatively large in diameter in order to pack enough bang to be effective. But they were also fairly fragile. If fired with too high a charge they could (and did) break up in the bore without having much of any effect on the enemy at best and becoming a hazard to the gun crew at worst. The chamber existed as a way to more efficiently fire a lighter charge in a large bore weapon. If you put too little powder in too large diameter a container it won't burn completely.
Of course mortars have been around long before Coehorn and references to this piece are found in the 16th Century. Large mortars lkke " Roaring Meg " were used in sieges during the English Civil Wars and a small towed portable mortar referred to as a " Murderer " was used by dragoons to cause havoc when laying what was referred to as an " ambuscadoe ", or ambush according to contemporary references .
Yes, and here's a video of the 111th Field Artillery with one of their howitzers at our Military Through the Ages event. th-cam.com/video/ET1hujzHOCs/w-d-xo.html
With the wider mouth of the howitzer and mortar, do you have to change your procedure at all? For example, unlike swabbing out a cannon barrel your swab isn't going to reach the barrel walls
Thanks for the Question. The sponge is meant to swab out the chamber instead of the whole barrel, so the only big difference in procedure is setting the bomb in place which may take time. Of course they're different types of pieces, but this video does cover setting a bomb in a mortar -- th-cam.com/video/rqz8l0iaFXg/w-d-xo.html
Our blank loads are charged with black powder and encased in an aluminum foil body. We use the foil because the bits and pieces of the discharged body are not going to be hot embers creating a fire hazard down range from the gun.
As a rough general rule, if we were to describe cannon, they had evolved as guns with a relatively flat trajectory, firing solid shot, and meant to break things with the shot's kinetic energy. To break castles, structures, and ships. Cannon and solid shot began the decline of castles as defensive fortifications and a return to earthen fortifications, the earthen construction dampened the kinetic energy of solid shot. Cannon had a straight bore and needed to maximize the energy of a maximum charge of gunpowder to effectively strike a target. Howitzers did not necessarily need to develop the same energy. It needed to get a bomb to the target with a properly set fuse so that the bomb exploded at the moment of arrival. It was not necessary for a bomb to strike a target with maximum kinetic energy. Ideally the bomb would arrive and burst above the heads of infantry, get fired over the defensive fortification and burst within the fortification to harm men and damage equipment, or strike the earthen fort and the bomb’s bursting breaking down the earthen construction. The howitzer’s effectiveness was not dependent on maximizing kinetic energy. The chamber at the breech of the bore allowed the use of a smaller charge to effectively propel the bomb.
Hey! Jamie here, the guy in the video. The downward force from the mortar could potentially damage a carriage, but it was really because of those trunnions. When sitting on a travelling carriage, the mortar would not be able to achieve the same angle as it would while on a bed. Because the trunnions are located at the rear, setting the mortar at an angle would be difficult. That all changes with the invention of Hobit carriages.
@@jamesrichardson8958 Hey Jamie, thanks! So would it be difficult to get the angle because the muzzle would be too high to load, etc, if it was up on a carriage, or because it would be too front-heavy and tip the carriage? Or is it just a carriage design thing I'm missing lol. Thanks for your patience (and the great videos too!)
Could you clarify your question? Grapeshot and case shot/canister were very similar munitions. Both are made up of multiple projectiles, with case shot made of a large number of small projectiles and encased in a can, while grapeshot was made up of a smaller number of larger projectiles and built into a cluster held together with either fabric or an iron frame. On the firing of the gun, the shot was sent down range and while in motion the case or frame came apart and the projectiles dispersed. Grapeshot was effective at a moderate range while case shot was effective at short range.
For once the audio was recorded correctly and the sound more closely resembles the real thing. Totally deafening after a few shots, hearing protection is a must.
This was a... *blast* thank you
You're welcome!
The balaclava itself out here in the wild
I need a howitzer, and a Napoleon 12 pounder, and and and. …. 🤣. Great video!
The rule is get both! Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks.
Thank you for the video👍 The howitzer seems like a great compromise between portability and firepower. The idea of a double canister load being fired at a line of soldiers just gives me the chills.
You're welcome. And yes having any munitions projected towards us, gives us chills too.
That depends on which end of the howitzer that you are on. :P
Those bronze tubes are priceless!
What a beautiful collection!!!
Thank you!!
Wonderful and, again, comprehensive video. This is the first time I have seen the inside of a mortar. Thanks for showing it and explaining where the powder went. Thanks for explaining the difference between mortars and howitzers. Thanks for discussing different types of shells. Thanks for going through the steps to load and fire the howitzer. Firing an artillery piece, with or without a shell, is still very neat. Your videos are so well done, professional and informative, it is always a pleasure to see a new one posted. You bring great joy to a one legged historian in Arizona who will never visit your museum. Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you so much for the very kind words and it makes us happy to know that you enjoy our videos.
Well done JYF Museums, your cannoneer has wit and charm and spun a humorous yarn, yep, I'm blown away! And I have noticed that the various state police agencies seem to have zero chill about cannons.
Thank you!
A very well done and informative video! Thank you!
You're very welcome!
WOW AMAZING !🤠👍👍💥💥💥💥💥
Yes!
Awesome!
Thanks! We think so too.
Facts, information and humor in 6.30 minutes. Thanks you.
You're welcome
I remember on a tour of Yorktown the guide stated that when doing a renovation of the mayor's house they found howitzer shells in the walls that had been fired by Contintal troops or French. The shells had to be removed and disarmed. They were then returned to the spot in the wall they were removed from.
Your personality suits the material. Very well delivered.
Well, that clinches it then, I NEED a howitzer ;-D
Good presentation!
Thank you!
Great content, keep it up!
Thanks, will do!
Thank you for a fun and interesting video with just the right amount of info. I've never seen a howitzer of that sort featured although there are plenty of videos of mortars and cannon. Your presenter is very easy to listen to!
Well thank you very much!
Love the intro to this! Great and entertaining narration throughout too.
Thank you. We're glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for such a very informative video, that answered a lot of questions, about 18th century artillery.
Thank you for explaining, in detail, about 18th century ordinance.
You are welcome!
Explosive shells had to be relatively large in diameter in order to pack enough bang to be effective. But they were also fairly fragile. If fired with too high a charge they could (and did) break up in the bore without having much of any effect on the enemy at best and becoming a hazard to the gun crew at worst.
The chamber existed as a way to more efficiently fire a lighter charge in a large bore weapon. If you put too little powder in too large diameter a container it won't burn completely.
Love that intro
Thanks!
Of course mortars have been around long before Coehorn and references to this piece are found in the 16th Century. Large mortars lkke " Roaring Meg " were used in sieges during the English Civil Wars and a small towed portable mortar referred to as a " Murderer " was used by dragoons to cause havoc when laying what was referred to as an " ambuscadoe ", or ambush according to contemporary references .
For some reason our blacksmith has a fondness for Mons Meg, and here is our "Murderer".
th-cam.com/video/nRoUiN9xkEM/w-d-xo.html
I enjoyed the video, thanks sir
We're glad to hear it. You're welcome!
Very Nice - Thank You!
😎👍
You're welcome!
Mortars are high angle of fire weapons designed to drop exploding shot over the walls of fortified positions, forts, into trenches.
The name Howitzer is still in use today. I didn't know that the origin was this old.
Yes, and here's a video of the 111th Field Artillery with one of their howitzers at our Military Through the Ages event. th-cam.com/video/ET1hujzHOCs/w-d-xo.html
They date back to the late 16th century. I am 100% not considering begging my group's Master Gunner for one. 😅
@thecreweofthefancy Never beg. Just put in a purchase order as though it is already approved. 😅
@@JYFMuseums then I have to deal with my wife. That is scarier.
With the wider mouth of the howitzer and mortar, do you have to change your procedure at all? For example, unlike swabbing out a cannon barrel your swab isn't going to reach the barrel walls
Thanks for the Question. The sponge is meant to swab out the chamber instead of the whole barrel, so the only big difference in procedure is setting the bomb in place which may take time. Of course they're different types of pieces, but this video does cover setting a bomb in a mortar -- th-cam.com/video/rqz8l0iaFXg/w-d-xo.html
Fantastic! What do you guys use for a blank load for the howitzer it was a great report!
Our blank loads are charged with black powder and encased in an aluminum foil body. We use the foil because the bits and pieces of the discharged body are not going to be hot embers creating a fire hazard down range from the gun.
@@JYFMuseums Indeed! What size charge?
In the howitzer they are using 8 ounces.
Fascinating. And sorry if you explained it and I missed it, but why were chambers required to fire bombs? Why didn't cannons need chambers? Thank you.
As a rough general rule, if we were to describe cannon, they had evolved as guns with a relatively flat trajectory, firing solid shot, and meant to break things with the shot's kinetic energy. To break castles, structures, and ships. Cannon and solid shot began the decline of castles as defensive fortifications and a return to earthen fortifications, the earthen construction dampened the kinetic energy of solid shot. Cannon had a straight bore and needed to maximize the energy of a maximum charge of gunpowder to effectively strike a target.
Howitzers did not necessarily need to develop the same energy. It needed to get a bomb to the target with a properly set fuse so that the bomb exploded at the moment of arrival. It was not necessary for a bomb to strike a target with maximum kinetic energy. Ideally the bomb would arrive and burst above the heads of infantry, get fired over the defensive fortification and burst within the fortification to harm men and damage equipment, or strike the earthen fort and the bomb’s bursting breaking down the earthen construction.
The howitzer’s effectiveness was not dependent on maximizing kinetic energy. The chamber at the breech of the bore allowed the use of a smaller charge to effectively propel the bomb.
Too little powder in too large a container leads to either an incompete or at least inefficient burn.
Das waren Noch zeiten richtige kanonen ❤klasse grus aus der katzengueserstadt Augusta vindelicum 1328 wurde der erste Mörser gegossen ❤
So why couldn't mortars be on normal carriages? Is it because the downward force would damage it instead of rolling the gun backwards?
Hey! Jamie here, the guy in the video. The downward force from the mortar could potentially damage a carriage, but it was really because of those trunnions. When sitting on a travelling carriage, the mortar would not be able to achieve the same angle as it would while on a bed. Because the trunnions are located at the rear, setting the mortar at an angle would be difficult. That all changes with the invention of Hobit carriages.
Yes, What Jamie said!
@@JYFMuseums just happened to be there 😂
@@jamesrichardson8958 Hey Jamie, thanks! So would it be difficult to get the angle because the muzzle would be too high to load, etc, if it was up on a carriage, or because it would be too front-heavy and tip the carriage? Or is it just a carriage design thing I'm missing lol. Thanks for your patience (and the great videos too!)
The tube would be too front heavy and fall flat, defeating the purpose of the mortar.
Nice shot at the end. Had to be at least 8 oz.? F, FF, FFF or cannon grade?
For the Howitzer, they're generally using 8 ounces of ffg powder.
@@JYFMuseums I knew it!
That you did.
Was the powder loaded contained in a bag, or loose with a ladle?
To our knowledge, prefixed rounds were not made for howitzers so the power would have to be ladled in separately.
@JYFMuseums That's interesting, thanks
what about grapeshot?
Could you clarify your question? Grapeshot and case shot/canister were very similar munitions. Both are made up of multiple projectiles, with case shot made of a large number of small projectiles and encased in a can, while grapeshot was made up of a smaller number of larger projectiles and built into a cluster held together with either fabric or an iron frame. On the firing of the gun, the shot was sent down range and while in motion the case or frame came apart and the projectiles dispersed. Grapeshot was effective at a moderate range while case shot was effective at short range.
For once the audio was recorded correctly and the sound more closely resembles the real thing. Totally deafening after a few shots, hearing protection is a must.
Their stone throwers.
Well if the mythbusters can do it…
Sorry. Was that to soon?
'howitzer' - [1685-95; earlier hauwitzer ‹ D houvietser, equiv. to houviets- (‹ G Haubitze, MHG haufnitz ‹ Czech houfnice slingshot) + -er -er1]
source - Collins Dictionary.