SIMONSTOWN 9-inch CANNON

By: Gerrie de Vries, 5 March 2011

On 16 March 2011 the Simonstown Middle North Battery 9-incg RML gun will be fired for the first time in 108-years. (See events calendar for details of event and directions).

A bit of history and specifications:

• Manufactured at the Royal Gun Factory, Woolwich, in 1865
• 9 inch Mk 1 serial number 22 weight 12,5 tons
• Range 6,000 yards at 13 degrees of elevation with a charge of 45 lbs of very large grain powder
• Projectile weight 256 lb muzzle velocity 1,44
• Deployed in Halifax 1866 – 1878
• Moved to Bermuda in 1878 until 1881
• Before being shipped to Bermuda, the gun was modified especially for ships of the "Shah" class
• Used at Sheerness proving range 1881 – 1885. By 10/02/1885 the gun had fired 25 full rounds, 78 reduced rounds and 1 blank, returned
• Moved to Simon’s Town in 1896 – still in its original position
• By 13/02/1896 the gun was mounted at "Upper North Battery", first fired in 1896, 27 full rounds and 1 reduced round
• Fired in 1897, 38 full rounds, 8 blanks. (In September, 29 full rounds)
• Fired in 1898, 20 full rounds and 3 blanks
• Fired in 1899, 26 full rounds and 7 blanks
• Last fired 27/04/1903, 3 full rounds
• Struck off charge on the 19/09/1906
• In 1983/84 the gun was restored by the Gun Shop, Dock Yard Simons Town
• Fired 257 lb Palliser shot with a 50 lb powder charge, (first shot was with 33 lb in 1896)