Re: Columbiads

In a message dated 7/25/99 10:47:48 PM EST, edens@mindspring.com writes:

<< "You will actually find Columbiad guns emplaced on smaller naval
vessels
 prior to the War of 1812"
 
  - Are you sure you don't mean Carronades, which are something
completely
 different. >>

I'm aware of the difference. The Carronade was becoming common on
British 
naval vessels by the end of the French and Indian Wars, during the AWI
it was 
one of the major advantages the Brits had over French vessels of similar

size. The carronade included guns up to 68 pound bore (the "smasher"
gun). 
The Columbiad was developed by the US as a compromise piece between
carronade 
and long gun. If it wasn't an American innovation why refer to
"Columbia" an 
alter ego for the Americas.