A tampion or tompion (in the Royal Navy)
[ Simmons, 1812, p. 163.] is a wooden plug, or a metal, canvas, rubber, or plastic cover, for the
muzzle of a
gun
A gun is a device that Propulsion, propels a projectile using pressure or explosive force. The projectiles are typically solid, but can also be pressurized liquid (e.g. in water guns or water cannon, cannons), or gas (e.g. light-gas gun). So ...
,
howitzer
The howitzer () is an artillery weapon that falls between a cannon (or field gun) and a mortar. It is capable of both low angle fire like a field gun and high angle fire like a mortar, given the distinction between low and high angle fire break ...
, or
mortar.
[ Duane, 1810, p. 678.] Tampions can be found on both land-based artillery and naval guns. Naval tampions have been developed into works of art.
History
Although the cannon of
ships of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed during the Age of Sail from the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The ship of the line was designed for the naval tactic known as the line of battle, which involved the two column ...
were protected as they were retracted inside the ships, many smaller vessels had exposed gundecks which required a plug to protect inside of the barrels. To combat rust when ships were not in action the barrels were sealed, both with a tampion and plugs in the touch hole. A quantity of olive oil and a round shot were left inside in the barrel; With the gun laid horizontally the shot would roll up and down the barrel as the ship caught each wave, effectively lubricating the gun simply through the motion of the ship.
[ Morris, 2006, p. 110.]
Later, the invention of revolving gun turrets meant that all guns were constantly exposed to water. Hence, when not in use, naval guns were protected by wooden, and, later, rubber, muzzle plugs. They were also used to protect the barrel whenever the guns were placed in storage, for example in the hold where moisture could cause corrosion, and sealed in with putty.
[ Simmons, 1812, p. 65.]
Typically, rubber and plastic tampions can be shot through in case of an emergency. Plastic tampions are normally designed to be expelled by the build-up of pressure in the barrel as the first shell is fired.
Over time, tampions were
embossed or
engraved
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on a hard, usually flat surface by cutting grooves into it with a burin. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an inta ...
with the arms of the unit, and they became collector's items. Nowadays, even warships that typically would not carry heavy guns, such as submarines, have their own
badges
A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fir ...
in the shape of a tampion.
References
Further reading
*
*
*
Images
Image:HMS Victory cannon.jpg, The muzzle of a 24-pounder cannon
A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during th ...
on the preserved ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed during the Age of Sail from the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The ship of the line was designed for the naval tactics in the Age of Sail, naval tactic known as the line of battl ...
, HMS ''Victory''. The red tampion is secured with a cord
File:Rodman Beatty.jpg, The tampions of the 15-inch guns on the British battleship
A battleship is a large, heavily naval armour, armored warship with a main battery consisting of large naval gun, guns, designed to serve as a capital ship. From their advent in the late 1880s, battleships were among the largest and most form ...
in 1917
File:HMAS Australia SLV H98.100 3193.jpeg, A sailor polishing the tampion of an 8-inch gun on the Australian heavy cruiser
A heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in calibre, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval Treat ...
, HMAS ''Australia'' in the early 1950s.
Image:17 brass cannon July 76.jpg, Tampion of a brass cannon with the crest of the British ''Leander''-class frigate, HMS ''Bacchante'' in 1976
Image:HMS Argyll Tampion MOD 45156532.jpg, Tampion on the 4.5 inch gun of the British Type 23 frigate
The Type 23 frigate or Duke class is a class of frigates built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The ships are named after British Dukes, thus leading to the class being commonly known as the Duke class. The first Type 23, , was commission ...
, HMS ''Argyll'' in 2014
Image:USS Missouri forward turrets.jpg, The unadorned tampions of the 16-inch guns on the US battleship, USS ''Missouri'' in 2002
Image:Prairial 1.jpg, The 100 mm gun of the French frigate ''Prairial'' sealed by a tampion
Image:Tape de bouche Jeanne.jpg, Tampion of the French cruiser ''Jeanne d'Arc''
Image:Tape-rubis.jpg, Tampion of the French submarine ''Rubis''
Image:Tapeemeraude.jpg, Tampion of the French submarine ''Émeraude''
Image:HMS Duke of York gunners A 021168.jpg, Rain covers on HMS ''Duke of York''
Image:HMSDukeOfYorkNew14inchGun1942.jpg, Another type of rain cover on the ''Duke of York''
{{commons category, Tampions
Artillery components
Firearm muzzle devices