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This is a modified weapon, originally built as a 68-pounder 112-cwt (hundredweight), which had first been designed in 1841 by a Colonel William Dundas.
Royal Navy 68-pounders were removed from ships, landed, and used in action during the Crimean War (1853-56). Britain's first armour-plated, iron-hulled warship in 1860, HMS Warrior, was fitted with 26 68-pounders.
On land the 68-pounder was used extensively in British coastal defences constructed during the 1850s. They were also used to equip similar facilites in the colonies. Two were installed on Signal Hill, on the approaches to the Australian port of Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1874.
In the UK, a Captain William Palliser patented a method of boring out the gun barrel and inserting a wrought-iron rifled liner. The resulting weapon, introduced in 1872, was the 80-pounder, 5-ton RML (rifled, muzzle loading) gun.
In 1877, in light of the perceived increasing threat from Russia, an Australian government report recommended building a fort on Signal Hill and equipping it with three 9-inch and four 80-pounder RML guns. This was eventually named Fort Scratchley, after Colonel Peter Scratchley, co-author of the report and the man responsible for the detailed planning for the fort.
Three of the 80-pounders were positioned in casemates that looked across the Hunter River, rather than out to sea. One of them, on a replica gun carriage, is seen above.
Fort Scratchley's 80-pounders were replaced in 1898 by 1.5-inch Nordenfelt quick-firing guns, but 80-pounders remained in commission elsewhere until they were eventually declared obsolete in 1921!
The only action ever seen by Fort Scratchley was on 8 June 1942 when two 6-inch guns engaged I-21, a Japanese submarine, which briefly shelled the port. It closed as a military site in 1972 and became a museum in 1982. Subsequent extensive refurbishment included the emplacement of the above weapon in 2000.
My Mom's 2 dogs are afraid of the goats-one of her dogs being an 80pounder. This little cat Sam is fearless all I need is bad to the bone playing in the background. Its like the goats who normally chase other animals including my cat buddy are like this one is a killer let's get out of here.
My Chewy (Boxer, but a big one) loves his Extra Large Sleek Khaki Bed. He loves it so much that this morning, after the man left, Chewy got in the bed with me (as he has for years).. and within the half hour, he was on his new bed again....He never came back to our bed. :( He's been there all night. I was just in the back of the house and just knew that Chewy probably messed up my bed (that I'd just made)...nope. He was on his new bed. Lol.
I'm not gonna lie, I've fallen asleep on it twice with him. (He's a great cuddler) It's incredibly comfortable and doesn't compress even with all of Okie weight . I'm thoroughly impressed. Thanks Big Barker four helping us pamper our babies. #bigbarker #80pounder