Also known as: 32-pounder howitzer.
| Type | Bronze smoothbore howitzer |
|---|---|
| Bore | 6.4 inches |
| Ammunition | Shell, spherical case, and canister |
| Note | Heaviest of the howitzers; limited mobility |
The largest howitzer
The 32-pounder howitzer was the heaviest of the bronze howitzers, with a 6.4-inch bore for shell and canister thrown at high elevation. Its bursting projectiles were effective, but its weight made it awkward for the mobile field battery and it was less common than the lighter howitzers.
Like the other howitzers, it fired a large-diameter, thin-walled shell with a relatively small charge, trading the flat trajectory and long range of the gun for plunging fire that could reach sheltered targets.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- United States Army, Ordnance Department. The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1862.