Historical Notes

2.5 inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) Mountain Gun "The Screw Gun."

This mountain gun was based on a new system invented by Colonel Le Mesurier in 1876. A new type of gunpowder had been invented but the barrel that was able to use it had to be longer and so heavier. While the carriage and wheels were carried in their parts by mules as usual, the new system was to have the barrel in two parts, each of one mule-load. These were joined by a trunnion ring attached to the muzzle section which allowed it to be 'screwed' to the breech section. The completed barrel length was 66.5 ins. with a diameter of 2.5 ins. The shell weighed 7lbs. Currently, one of these guns is on show at Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum at Woolwich.

The mule gun train consisted of five mules, the first two mules for each part of the barrel, a third for the wheels, a forth for the carriage and the fifth for the other parts (elevating gear, axletree etc.).

This versatile gun was the standard equipment for mountain artillery from 1878 until after the Boer War, and was considered for many years to be the best mountain gun in the world. It caught the imagination of the British Press who named it the 'Screw Gun'. Rudyard Kipling then immortalised it in his famous poem 'The Screw Guns' which perfectly captures the atmosphere of the mule train high in the mountains.

It was first used in a mountain battery similar to Peter Rutland's in the Afghan War of 1878-80, which was the first of his many military adventures.

Martini Henry Rifle

.577/.450in - as used by Gunner Powell

In 1871 the British Army was issued with a single shot, breech loading rifle.

The Martini under-lever "falling block" action was added to a barrel with the rifling by Henry. The bullet fired was a heavy .450 inch, hard lead, unjacketed slug.

The sights were marked up to 1,700 yards but it was mainly used at a maximum of 400 yards. At 200 yards it was extremely effective and deadly weapon.

The rate of fire was about 12 rounds per minute but the drawback was the sharp crack and the hefty kick on the shoulder.