12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzer, Heavy, of USS Monongahela in New Haven, Connecticut

May 24

US Navy 12-Pounder Boat Howitzer Number 128 is one of for displayed around a monument in New Haven, Connecticut

A US Navy 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzer, Heavy, Number 128 is one of four of the type displayed around a monument in New Haven, Connecticut.

Many thanks to friend of the page James Murray for taking and sharing these photos!

12-Pounder Boat Howitzer, Heavy, Number 128 was manufactured at the Washington Navy Yard in 1862. As manufactured it weighed 750 pounds.

Number 128 was placed aboard USS Monongahela in February of 1863. It was almost certainly aboard during the engagement with the batteries at Port Hudson on March 14-15th, 1863. At some point, it was transferred to the gunboat USS Scotia. While it is unclear when this transfer took place, both ships saw a very active war. It may have been aboard Scotia when that ship sank for a second time (this time after striking a torpedo) in April 1865.

Following the Civil War, it was placed aboard USS Brooklyn in December of 1873. Removed in 1876, it was served aboard USS Trenton from 1877 to 1880 - after which it does not seem to have served afloat.

Dahlgren’s boat howitzers were mounted aboard ships, boats, and landing carriages and could be quickly shifted from ship to boat to shore. Aboard ships, they were light guns which could be rapidly fired against troops ashore or small boats. Ashore, they provided light artillery support for landing parties of sailors and Marines.

(Service details from NARA RG 74 Entries 111 and 112)