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Model 1841 12-Pounder

Model 1841 12 Pound History

For 19th century battlefield armies, howitzers attempted to bridge the gap between line-of-sight field guns and indirect-fire mortars. During the American Civil War (1861-1865) there were several notable artillery pieces in use, one of which was the Model 1841 12-pounder howitzer. Howitzers are generally characterized by a shorter barrel, a reduced charge, and projectiles that bombard hidden forces from above on high ballistics.

Mortars are functionally similar on the battlefield, but rely on higher ballistics and shorter ranges to achieve the same effect.

These howitzers seen throughout the war years were either arranged as part of a battery (usually two per battery) or organized as full howitzer units when the situation required it.

The 12-pounder Type 1841 gun appeared as the traditional gun of the day, with spoked wheels forming part of the carriage, which contained the crossbar and extended trailing arms. The gun is mounted on a bracket that unfolds the wheels. The rifle crew consisted of up to 8 employees, each with a specific role in the function of the weapon, without protection. It is likely that such a weapon would be used behind an actual front, away from immediate danger, but this is not always the case.

The Type 1841 could be pulled by the "Beast of Burden" thanks to its wheeled landing gear that went hand in hand with the associated ammunition supply. However, a viable artillery recoil mechanism is still decades away, due to which the artillery must be repositioned after firing.

The 12-pounder provides considerable lethality at short to medium ranges, firing grenades or projectiles. These guns were also more maneuverable than the deployed 6-pound Model 1841 because of their shorter and lighter barrels.

Over time, the design was superseded by the powerful Model 1857 "Napoleon" 12-pounder, as its advantages were eventually recognized on many battlefields of the Civil War. In any case, the Model 1841 howitzer remained in service until the last days of the war.

Model 1841 12-pounder howitzers were used on both sides of the conflict, some of which were used by the Confederates at the famous Fort Sumter fortification in the Port of Charleston, South Carolina.