Three 20-Pounder Parrott Rifles in South Berwick, Maine

Aug 20

US Navy 20-Pounder Parrott Rifle displayed in South Berwick, Maine

Three US Navy 20-Pounder Parrott Rifles (or 3.67-Inch Parrott Rifles) are displayed around a monument in South Berwick, Maine. The US Navy variant of this Parrott may be distinguished from the similar Army version by the extended cascable capable of taking a breeching rope. The three rifles are mounted on iron display stands. Two of the three are mounted upside down - as can be seen by the position of the mounting points for the sights. The one mounted correctly shows a US Navy anchor marking on the barrel.

According to the information in The Big Guns, the US Navy Registry Numbers are 188, 189, and 247 - the first two were manufactured in 1862 and the third in 1863. Number 247 served aboard USS Dawn.

The Sloop of War Constellation has a reproduction 20-Pounder Parrott mounted on a traditional four truck naval carriage. Period photos suggest that a two-truck (two-wheel) carriage may have been more likely during the war.

The Type:

The 20-Pounder Parrott Rifle varied considerably in weight with some examples weighing around 1,680 pounds and others more than 1,800. However, this "1,700-ish" pound rifle was one of the lightest guns in the navy's inventory during the American Civil War. Only the Dahlgren boat howitzers were lighter. The 20-Pounder Parrott was frequently used to arm converted merchant ships which could not handle the heavy weight or considerable recoil of larger artillery. Reading through reports, I've read an officer suggest that a captured blockade runner be taken into service and armed with a 20-Pounder Parrott and one or two boat howitzers. The two types would compliment each other. The Parrott would have longer range. The boat howitzers could fire shell and case more rapidly but with much shorter range.