The Treadwell 32-Pounders at the Washington Navy Yard
Two Treadwell 32-Pounders are displayed at the Washington Navy Yard
Two experimental wrought-iron (possibly wrought-iron and steel) 32-Pounders designed by Daniel Treadwell and manufactured circa 1844 are displayed at the Washington Navy Yard. They cannons were light and could be very strong - though not every example's welds held up. For naval service, they were too light: according to Spencer Tucker's "Arming the Fleet", the four 32-Pounders created for the navy had a bore length of 70 inches and a weight between 1,700 and 1,900 pounds - a bit lighter than the standard USN carronade of the 1820s. (This contributes the the neighboring US Army 42-pounder, admittedly a big cannon, looking gigantic.) Also according to Spencer, "to rupture a 32-Pounder Treadwell, it had to be fired with 14 pounds of powder and five shot." Such a light cannon fired with anything approaching cannon-sized charges would produce a fearsome recoil. The inconsistent durability, the light weight, and the high cost all contributed to the US Navy rejecting the design for general service.
Two Treadwell 32-Pounders are displayed at the Washington Navy Yard
Two Treadwell 32-Pounders are displayed at the Washington Navy Yard
The two Treadwell 32-Pounders are the 2nd and 3rd guns from the back.
The diminutive size of the Treadwell 32-Pounder can be seen next to a US Army 42-Pounder. The 42-Pounder is admittedly a large gun weighing 8,500 pounds. Though a full size 32-Pounder would not look nearly so small.
