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Historic Guns of British India

173 bytes removed, 17:02, 20 September 2010
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:General Lord Viscount Beresford, G.C.B.
== Guns at the Royal Arsenal ==
The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firepower_-_The_Royal_Artillery_Museum Royal Artillery Museum] at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Arsenal Royal Arsenal] site at Woolwich.
=== Indian SB Bronze Gun ===
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(The analysis of the cannon undertaken by Mr Wollaston of the India Office)
=== The Mulharrao Howitzer ===
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This gun is in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firepower_-_The_Royal_Artillery_Museum Royal Artillery Museum] at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Arsenal Royal Arsenal] site at Woolwich. A bronze 6’’ howitzer late 18th century from Baroda, it is mounted on a native carriage. Weight 3cwt. 34lbs; length of chamber 6.3 in; length of bore 7in. There are numerous implements attached to the brackets of the carriage.
This exceptional gun was captured by a British Force at [[Actions at Kurree|Khuree]] (modern Kadi) in Gujarat in 1802 during a campaign often seen as the beginning of the second Anglo- Maratha War. Kanoji Rao, illegitimate brother of Anunt Rao, disputed his succession to the Gaikwar of Baroda. To back his own claim Khanoji enlisted the powerful support of his cousin Mulhar Rao who held the practically independent fiefdom of Kadi. Mulhar Rao raised an army of 32,000 men. In return for military assistance from the Company’s Bombay Army Anunt Rao promised territory and tax revenues to the East India Company. 6,000 British and Company troops attacked Mulhar Rao’s army and forced him to retreat. His fortress at Kadi, along with 58 guns, fell into British hands on 5th May 1802.
The Marathas developed some of the very best artillery encountered by the British. They were particularly noted for their technical innovation and the use of multi-purpose types. This gun is a hybrid mortar and howitzer. As a field Howitzer it would have fired explosive shell much like a contemporary 5.5 inch howitzer. But it was also capable of firing at even higher trajectories used by mortars in siege warfare. The carriage is stoutly built to withstand the shock of firing. One of the particularly unusual features is the plumb line within the decorative cupola, which ensured the gun was level, thus improving accuracy. Another is the iron spikes, stabilising the piece in preparation for subsequent high angle rounds.
=== Tiger Howitzer ===This gun is in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firepower_-_The_Royal_Artillery_Museum Royal Artillery Museum] at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Arsenal Royal Arsenal] site at Woolwich. Captured at Tipu Sultan’s fortress at the [[Battle of Seringapatam 1799|Battle of Seringapatam]] in 1799.
Tipu’s emblem was the tiger and he was known as ‘The Tiger of Mysore’. This piece is probably not finished as the detail of the chasing is not as fine as would normally be expected. It is a bronze 4 pounder inscribed 'Patan (Sriringpatna) Cast by Shams al-Din'. This gun is typical of those produced throughout Tipu Sultan’s region and is decorated with his emblems; tiger heads on the muzzle, trunnions and button, and the bubri, or stylised tiger stripes, which also contain information about production.

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