Weapon’s of the
Revolutionary War
By MaKenzie Dixon
Copyright
• All images and information in
my slide show follow all U.S
Copyright Laws
The British
• British Soldiers used the
Brown Bess Musket
• It was standard issue to
all soldiers.
•
Using the Brown Bess Musket
required lining up in rows to cast
large volley to get hits, for that
reason, this is why drilling and
discipline was important to keep
men in line and shooting quickly.
•
British Officers carried
Flintlock Pistols, and Sabers
(swords) as a Token of office
The Americans
•
•
•
The Americans were loaned
the French Charleville
Musket, this became
common, but was not
standard issue.
For range, the Pennsylvania
Long Rifle became popular. It
had rifle bore (meaning
grooves in the barrel that
allow the projectile to spin,
allowing it to fly faster and
straighter)
The first snipers used the
Pennsylvania Long Rifle to
assassinate British Officers.
Pictures of the
Weapons Used in
the Revolution
The Guns
•
•
•
The Brown Bess Musket- Traditionally called the Land Pattern Musket, it
was introduced by the British Army in 1722. It was a flint lock,
smoothbore musket, it was produced in large quantities for over a
century. In addition, it was fitted with a bayonet socket over the muzzle,
so it could be used as a pike in close fighting or defeating Calvary
charges. Within 50 years of its introduction, it had earned the nickname
Brown Bess, while the term was never used officially. The origins of the
name are unclear, some suggest it is derived from the German term for
Strong Gun (Braun Buss).
The Pennsylvania Long Rifle- The Pennsylvania Long Rifle was an
American of a German Hunting Rifle. It had rifle bore. Meaning grooves
cut in the barrel allowing the projectile to spin and shoot more
accurately.
The Charleville- It was a French Infantry Musket loaned to the Americans
by the French.
The Big Guns
Mortars
•
Mortars- Came in a variety of
types and sizes depending on
use. There were Land and
Sea service Mortars, all
ordinance of the day. Land
service mortars were lighter
than sea service. Sea
service mortars were
installed in "Bomb Ketches"
and needed no man handling.
Both ranged from 4.4-13
inches in caliber. Mortar
barrels were never more
than 3 times the caliber of
the gun, and as short as one
caliber in large guns. The
smallest was the Coehorn a
four and two fifths bore size.
Named for Baron de Coehorn.
Howitzers
• Howitzers- Was
originally developed to
fire bombs (powder
filled explosive shells)
These required large
bore. Since the small
charge burned quickly,
there was no need for
a long barrel. It
evolved into a large
caliber gun with a
short barrel.
• Picture- The Howitzer
is in the Red Circle in
the Background
Cannons
• Cannon used in the
Revolutionary War was
a standard smooth-bore
muzzle-loaded gun. It
hadn't changed in over
two hundred years.
Served as the principal
artillery weapon.
(picture- British Model
1775, right hand side is
a cut away view)
Then Compared to
Today
• Today’s military do not use Bayonets and are not
fighting off Calvary Charges.
• Today, instead of Brown Bess Muskets and
Pennsylvania Long Rifles, we have M16’s, deadly
accurate Sniper Rifles, and Nuclear Weapons.
• Due to the dangers of Nuclear Weapons, countries
are now trying to get rid of them.
• Countries today, instead of fighting off other
countries, they are fighting against Terrorism.
• Today’s government fears are of Nuclear Weapons
falling into the hands of Terrorists.
Weapons Then
Compared to Today
•
•
Compared to 1775-1784 Weapons, today's weapons don’t use Bayonets.
Today, we have more advanced technology, thus, more advanced
weapons. Also, today's military soldiers don't have to mostly hand to
hand. Today, there are many different kinds of weapons, the list below
shows just a few of the main ones we recognize today.
In Infantry military weapons are referred to as “small arms”. These small
arms include:
· M16
· M4
· M40A1 Sniper Rifle
· M-249 Saw
· M-240 Machine Gun
· M-9 Handgun
· M-1014 Joint Service Combat Shotgun
· MP-5 Sub-Machine Gun
· Hand Grenades
· FIM-9 Stinger Missile
· M-252 Mortar
· M-224 Lightweight Mortar
· AT4 Anti-Armor Weapon
· Multi-Purpose Assault Weapon
· Dragon Weapon System
· TOW Missile System
· AN/PVS-14 Night Vision Device
· SINCGARS RT-1523E Radio
· Mollie Vest
· Flak Vest
· Land Warrior
Where I got Everything
• Pictures- Bing.com Palongrifles.com About.com.Military
History, American Revolution.org
• Information
Revolution- American Revolution.org, Palongrifles.com,
revolutionarywarantiques.com, About.com.Military
History
Now- About.com. Us Military, Ecolonel.com,
Article- The Washington Post, 09 Aug 2006, “A Fight Against
Terrorism” by DeYoung
THE END