Cannon Spotting!!!

[Double D]

This Cannon sits  in front of theCourthouse in Down town Durban south Africa.  Anybody know what it is?

[Santa Dave]

I thought all cannon had a red & black can near them!
Is that long & narrow, or is that like a "long Tom"?
Dave
Nice paint job too!

[Double D]

Jiminey Crickets this is South Africa you want me to get arrested carrying a round a can of powder.

I don't know what it is, hoping some one else would.

I'll have to post it over on the Brit board they'll know.

[jeeper1]

Perhaps if someone emailed you a picture of a can you could print it out, bond it to a sheet of cardboard and carry that with you for photo purposes.  :lol:

[Blaster]

Is it an African cannon? :lol:  :lol:

[A.Roads]

I think you'll find that it's a 15-pr R.B.L. Field Gun, British. Adrian.

[Cat_Whisperer]

Judging from the people right under the barrel, it must be HUGE!   :-D

[Double D]

Thank you Adrian, you are a Gentleman.

For the rest of you oafs! I put a powder can in the picture.  Blaster it's your can by the way, so I am now in compliance with board rules.

[Double D]

I think you'll find that it's a 15-pr R.B.L. Field Gun, British. Adrian.

Adrian, what can you tell us about the history of this gun?

[irishman]

WOW! What a great way to start Daylight savings time. This Board is fun. Having fun on DD is 'double fun'.

Michael

[Cannonmaker]

The people in the back ground are quite a ways behind the gun.  Can not tell size real well, what is the bore size?  Golf ball, popcan, base ball, soft ball, cantalope or whatever, can't tell size.

[A.Roads]

This cannon is getting a bit modern for my area of interest/study. The 15-pr BL Field Gun was converted from the 12-pr, we are talking Boer War era with these.  You'd need measurements to actually confirm what you have pictured, I'm not 100% that it is the 15-pr. I'd recommend a visit to the www.palmerstonforts.org.uk which is an excellent site that covers British mid 19 cent to late 19th cent guns brilliantly. The site is fab, but the forum needs more people to 'discover' it.  Adrian.

[Kansas Boomer]

Double D, hope you have time, while in S.A. to visit two famous Boer War era cannons. The first is "Long Cecil". Built by an American engineer, for the defense of Kimberly. It was built in the machine shops at the Kimberly Diamond mines. I think it is on display at the war museum in Kimberly.
The second cannon is a full size replica of "Long Tom", the Boer answer to "Long Cecil". All the original Long Toms were destroyed by the Boers, to prevent there falling into British hands. They were 8" French Creasots. They were used to bombard Ladysmith, with great loss of life. I think one replica may be on display at Ladysmith.

[MaxSmoke]

Hey, Double D,

It might be easier for you to round up a Windhoek Lager to post with instead of the red can.

Tim

[Kansas Boomer]

MaxSmoke, a Windhoek might be a pretty good substitute if you can't get a red can. Boomer[/img]

[freddo]

Thats an interesting photo of the cannons Long Tom and Long Cecil.
 The American engineer mentioned[can't remember his name] was actually killed whilst shaving in his bathroom.Probably by a shell fragment from Long Tom.He was a brave and resourceful man and played a major role in the defence of Ladysmith His loss was a disaster for the defenders.
The story is worth reading.We English do not forget those Americans who have helped us in our fights despite the fact that some of us have trouble remembering names from time to time.