The Rifled Boat Howitzers of Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Two US Navy 12-Pounder Rifled Dahlgren Boat Howitzers are displayed at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Two US Navy 12-Pounder (3.4-Inch) Rifled Dahlgren Boat Howitzers are displayed near the 4th Street Entrance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer Number 314 cast at Washington Navy Yard in 1863. As manufactured it weighed 875 pounds. It is marked as having 50 pounds preponderance.
12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer Number 403 cast at Washington Navy Yard in 1865. As manufactured it weighed 888 pounds. This is the only surviving 12-Pounder Rifle with 3-groove rifling.
Two other Rifled Boat Howitzers are nearby:
12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer Number 249 is displayed outside of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. It was cast at Washington in 1863 and weighs 876 pounds. It is mounted on an original landing carriage. Find the post on this rifle here.
12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer Number 298 is displayed at Trophy Park. It is one of a small number of boat howitzers manufactured out of steel. It weighs 791 pounds and is mounted on an original carriage. Find the post on this rifle here.
Two sailors stand beside a 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer on the upper deck of USS Hunchback. Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2013646169/
12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer Number 314
US Navy 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer Number 314
12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer Number 403
US Navy 12-Pounder Boat Howitzer Number 403
12-Pounder Boat Howitzer Number 403 is the only surviving example of the type with 3-groove rifling.
The plaque between the two boat howitzers at the gate describes the history of the shipyard.
US Navy 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
US Navy 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer Number 249 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. Find additional photos of this Boat Howitzer here.
US Navy 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer (Steel) Number 298
US Navy 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer (Steel) Number 298 at Trophy Park. See additional photos of this howitzer here.
Trophy Park at Norfolk Naval Shipyard also displays Smoothbore 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzer Number 36. Additional Photos may be seen here.
Another photo of a 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer aboard USS Hunchback. Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2013646172/
Sailors demonstrate loading 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer aboard USS Hunchback. Note the sailor with the cartridge case slung over his shoulder at right. I wonder if this posed photo doesn’t show the sailors loading a projectile for the 12-Pounder smoothbore as the projectile seems to be larger than the 3.4-Inch bore of the rifle. Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2013646168/
Yet another photo of USS Hunchback’s 12-Pounder Rifled Boat Howitzer. Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2013647459/
Sailors and officers aboard USS Hunchback. Note the rifled boat howitzer at left on the upper deck and the smoothbore 12-Pounder Boat Howitzer to the right. Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2011645081/
