16th Century Swivel Gun

3D Model

Date: c. 1550

Total length: 183 cm

Caliber: 6.2 cm

Collection: National Museum of Denmark, Medieval collection

This model is of a breechloading swivel gun which stems from a shipwreck located off the coast of the Danish island of Anholt. The gun is loaded with a detachable chamber which is locked in place with a wedge. The chamber would have contained the powder charge and possibly a round of grapeshot. With several such chambers prepared in advance, the breechloading swivel gun could be reloaded quickly. The main purpose of swivel guns aboard ships was to provide support for the main fighting force of the ship, the shipborne infantry. Swivel guns were typically carried in the upper works of the ship and were mounted with iron stirrups (miches) on the rail or in the fighting tops. The miches made it possible to rotate the gun in a full circle and move it up or down, giving it a wide arc of fire. Extended description: http://combatarchaeology.org/swivel-gun/