Spiking Cannon:

I've been reading a book written in 1922 about the NZ Maori wars and came across several instances (on both sides) where withdrawing forces - faced with abandoning cannon - had to 'spike them' to stop the ordnance being used by the other side against them.

- These old black-powder cannon might be effectively rendered useless by merely hammering a spike into the touch-hole.

The small touch-holes that are loaded with fine powder to ignite the main powder charge behind the projectile(s) were vulnerable to this kind of blockage. - Accidental 'spiking' might occur in the heat of action if the ram rod was pushed down the bore when a vent-pick was being used to clear the touch-hole of debris. the tip of the pick might be forced back by the ram and the bent end would prevent the pick from being withdrawn.

The gun might be further disabled by loading a ball into the bore without any powder charge presenting a hell of a job to remove it.

Small Cannon (1 inch bore) repaired by boring a further ignition Hole.

San Antonio.

 

More modern artillery pieces might be "spiked" by removing the breech-block or totally destroyed  by charging with double charge of some kind designed to blow the barrel when remotely fired (using a pull cord ).

 

A spiked gun would need careful expert repairs as any projecting sharp metal remains (of a drilled-out spike) or even sharp iron burrs might ignite a powder charge when being loaded by the crew.

 

Serious stuff this ordnance and artillery work - and the bigger the gun the heavier the risks incurred by careless or poorly trained gunners.

 

The book that I'm working-through is 'The New Zealand Wars and The Pioneering Period' by James Cowan - 1921. - It is well written (archaic(ish) style) but has been simply scanned into the free Kindle edition and needs some thought to unscramble too frequent "nonsense-words". - Well illustrated with sketches and period photographs.

 

Some excellent references to the period weapons - and the author makes good comparison between the historic fighting here in New Zealand and the many similar encounters between first peoples and the European pioneers of America.

- Back then it was all about land as a resource - now it's all about hydrocarbons !
 

 

Maori 'PATITI' (Hatchet) With Carved Decorated Handle.

Marty K.