SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, Caroline du Sud — deux énormes canons Rodman de 15 pouces montent la garde à Fort Moultrie, qui fait partie du système de défense portuaire de Charleston de 1873 à 1898. Ces canons à canon lisse de l'époque de la guerre de Sécession, pesant plus de 25 tonnes chacun, représentent un saut significatif dans la technologie de l'artillerie et ont été cruciaux pour les fortifications côtières à la fin du XIXe siècle.
8061 x 5374 px | 68,2 x 45,5 cm | 26,9 x 17,9 inches | 300dpi
Date de la prise de vue:
14 août 2024
Lieu:
Fort Moultrie, Sullivans Island, South Carolina, United States
Informations supplémentaires:
Photograph by David Coleman. Fort Moultrie, located on Sullivan's Island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, has a rich history dating back to the American Revolution. The fort seen today is the third iteration, completed in 1809 and significantly modified in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Rodman cannons featured in this image were installed as part of post-Civil War improvements to the fort's defenses. The 15-inch Rodman smoothbore cannons were cutting-edge technology when developed by General Thomas Rodman just before the Civil War. Their innovative casting process allowed for the creation of much larger, more powerful guns than previously possible. Each Rodman gun could fire a 434-pound solid shot or explosive shell up to 4.5 miles, making them formidable weapons against potential enemy warships. These guns required a well-trained crew of 15 men to operate effectively. Loading and firing such massive weapons was a complex process, involving careful measurement of black powder charges, precise aiming, and the use of friction primers for ignition. At peak efficiency, a skilled crew could fire one round every four minutes. The presence of these Rodman guns at Fort Moultrie reflects the evolving nature of coastal defense in the late 19th century. While they were state-of-the-art when installed, rapidly advancing technology in naval artillery soon made them obsolete. By the Spanish-American War in 1898, newer weapons like disappearing guns and seacoast mortars were providing more effective harbor defense. The information panel in the image provides fascinating details about the logistics of moving these enormous guns. In an era before powered cranes and heavy machinery, transporting and mounting 50, 000-pound cannons required ingenious use of manual equipment like sling carts, lifting jacks, and garrison gins (a type of crane). Today, these Rodman cannons serve as impressive reminders of 19th-century military technology and the strategic importance of Charles
