CannonIn 1849, Benjamin Chambers was issued a U.S. patent for the breech loading cannon (No. 6612). The advantage of breech loading was to speed up the reloading process, allowing troops to fire more rounds per minute. Prior to this technology, troops used musket loading guns and had to run to the front of the gun to reload - wasting time and risking lives. Breechloading guns required a mechanism able to withstand the strain of firing and still operate smoothly and quickly to allow the next round to be fired. This required not only a superior material but expert machining. Chambers' design used a breech piece with sectional screws to allow for speedy opening for "swabbing, depositing the load and readily it closing again." |
