The RML 9-pounder 8 cwt gun and the RML 9-pounder 6 cwt gun were British
Rifled, Muzzle Loading (RML) field, horse and naval
artillery guns manufactured in England in the 19th century, which fired a projectile weighing approximately 9 pounds (4.1 kg). "8
cwt" and "6 cwt" refers to the weight of the gun to differentiate it from other 9-pounder guns.
Service history
The 9-pounder 8 cwt Rifled Muzzle Loader was the
field gun selected by the
Royal Artillery in 1871 to replace the more sophisticated
RBL 12 pounder 8 cwt Armstrong gun, which had acquired a reputation for unreliability.[1] The gun was
rifled using the system developed by
William Palliser, in which studs protruding from the side of the shell engaged with three spiral grooves in the barrel.[2] In 1874, a 6 cwt version was introduced for
horse artillery and was later adopted for
field artillery use, replacing the 8 cwt version. All variants used the same ammunition, which took the form of
shrapnel shell,
case shot and
common shell.[1]
9-pounder 8 cwt Mark I (Land Service): Introduced into the Royal Artillery in 1871. It was later withdrawn and modified for sea service.
9-pounder 8 cwt Mark II (Naval Service): Introduced in 1873 by the
Royal Navy.
9-pounder 6 cwt Mark I (N.S.): A few were made for experimental trials but they proved to be too short; some were issued to the
Royal Indian Navy. In 1873, forty five were completed for use as boat guns.
9-pounder 6 cwt Mark II (L.S.): A new design in 1874 for the
Royal Horse Artillery, it was longer than the 8 cwt gun but had the same
carriage.
9-pounder 6 cwt Mark III (N.S.): Introduced in 1879, a modified Mark II for naval service.
9-pounder 6 cwt Mark IV (N.S.): Similar to the Mark III with a steel jacket instead of
wrought iron previously used, and with a strengthened
cascabel.[5]
Surviving examples
Royal Artillery Museum (the collection is currently in storage awaiting relocation to a new site)[6]