12-pdr. Howitzer

12-Pounder Field Howitzer

A howitzer is a short-barreled artillery piece designed to throw large projectiles at high trajectories. In Federal service, nearly all 12-pounder howitzers had been replaced by the 12-pounder Napoleons. The Confederates, having a shortage of field pieces, maintained them in their arsenal. Howitzers fired solid shot, spherical case, and cannister.

Bore Diameter 4.62 in (11.73 cm)

Tube Material Bronze

Tube Length 53 in (135 cm)

Tube Weight 788 lb (357 kg)

Powder Charge 1 lb (0.45 kg)

Range (5° Elevation) 1,072 yd (980 m)

At Gettysburg 2 (USA); 26 (CSA)

Thomas, Dean S., CANNONS: An Introduction to Civil War Artillery. Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, PA, 1985.
Coco, Gregory A., A Concise Guide to the Artillery at Gettysburg. Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, PA, 1998.

Back to the Gettysburg Artillery Park

Photograph by Peter Schwartz
Created 17 OCT 1999; Modified 22 OCT 1999

http://einstein.human.cornell.edu/ACW/arty/12howitzer.html

Bore Diameter	4.62 in (11.73 cm)
Tube Material	Bronze
Tube Length	53 in (135 cm)
Tube Weight	788 lb (357 kg)
Powder Charge	1 lb (0.45 kg)
Range (5° Elevation)	1,072 yd (980 m)
At Gettysburg	2 (USA); 26 (CSA)