3-028-325 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Raising a 25-ton gun at the Gilkicker Battery, Portsmouth, 1871. 'The battery, which is mainly constructed of granite, is pierced for twenty-two guns, which are all in bombproof casemates. These guns are all intended to be 9-inch guns, each of twelve tons weight; and those few which are mounted are mostly fitted with Colonel Cunningham's traversing gear...On the summit of the Gilkieker battery are embrasures for five heavier guns, and two of these have been mounted. Our Illustration shows the method used in raising one of these monster pieces of ordnance into its position...For this purpose huge sheers were employed, 70 ft. in length and 2 ft. in diameter, with blocks and tackle in proportion...140 artillerymen were employed. The gun itself was raised by aid of two capstans, with forty men at each capstan; whilst the fore and back guys were worked by windlasses manned by the remainder of the men. Captain William Smith, Gunnery Instructor of the Twelfth Brigade of Royal Artillery, was in charge of the whole of the operations...From the bottom of the ditch to the sill of the embrasure the gun had to be lifted a height of 32 ft.;...We are obliged to Lieutenant S. P. Oliver, R.A., for the sketch we have engraved'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.