20-pounder Parrott rifle
The 20-pounder Parrott rifle, Model 1861 was a cast iron muzzle-loading rifled cannon that was adopted by the United States Army in 1861 and employed in field artillery units during the American Civil War. As with other Parrott rifles, the gun breech was reinforced by a distinctive wrought iron reinforcing band. The gun fired a 20 lb (9.1 kg) projectile to a distance of 1,900 yd (1,737 m) at an elevation of 5°. The 20-pounder Parrott rifle could fire shell, shrapnel shell (case shot), canister shot, and more rarely solid shot. In spite of the reinforcing band, the 20-pounder earned a dubious reputation for bursting without warning, killing or injuring gunners. The Confederate States of America also manufactured copies of the gun.
| 20-pounder Parrott rifle | |
|---|---|
A 20-pounder Parrott rifle is located at Gettysburg National Military Park. | |
| Type | Rifled cannon |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1861–1865 |
| Used by | United States Confederate States |
| Wars | American Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Robert Parker Parrott |
| Designed | 1859–1860 |
| Manufacturer | West Point Foundry |
| Unit cost | $380 |
| Produced | 1861–1864 |
| No. built | United States: c. 300 Confederate States: 45+ |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,750 lb (794 kg) |
| Length | 84 in (2.13 m) |
| Shell weight | 20.0 lb (9.1 kg) shell 2.0 lb (0.9 kg) charge |
| Caliber | 3.67 in (93 mm) |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Action | Muzzle loading |
| Carriage | 1,175 lb (533 kg) |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,250 ft/s (381 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 1,900 yd (1,700 m) at 5° |
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