5-inch Model 1897 Rifled Cannon

5-inch Model 1897 Rifled Cannon. . , This gun is a 5-inch Model 1897 rifled cannon. A total of 70 such cannons were made, but only 7 remain today. This cannon is Number (No.) 14. The average Model 1897 cannon weighed 7,583 pounds; however, this one weighs 9,283 pounds due to the 1,500 pounds of concrete added to the breach and barrel so that it could never be fired again. The bore length is 225 inches with an overall length of about 20 feet. The Model 1897 could fire a 45-pound projectile up to 8,000 yards or a 59-pound projectile up to 13,000 yards. These cannons were often called rapid-fire rifles because a crew could shoot up to 6 rounds per minute as opposed to the 2-rounds-per-minute rate of larger guns., The original 70 Model 1897s were designed by Watervliet Arsenal in New York and cast at Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. From 1897 to 1920, the cannons were used by the United States Army Coastal Artillery Corp[s] (CAC) as coastal artillery to defend major American seaports. Number 7 and Number 14 were first installed at Fort Rosecrans, San Diego, where the 5-inch cannons were replaced with 3-inch cannons. During World War I, 28 of these cannons were removed from their fixed emplacements and sent overseas to the 69th Coastal Artillery Regiment in France. However, due to the Armistice and following Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war, the cannons were never used or fired., The cannons were eventually returned to the United States after the war. Some were scrapped while others were donated to local governments or organizations for use as war memorials. The Indiana County VFW was one of the lucky few organizations to receive a Model 1897 rifled cannon, and the No. 14 has called Indiana County home for over 60 years. On August 2, 2021, No. 14 was donated to the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County, where it now resides outside the Armory Building. This cannon is one of only 7 known to be still in existence., Locations of additional remaining 5-inch Model 1897 rifled cannons: , . No. 16- Memorial Park, Woodstown, NJ , . No. 21 - Veterans Memorial Park, Warren, OH , . No. 13 - Valley Forge Military Academy and College, Wayne, PA , . No. 3 - Virginia War Museum, Newport, VA , . No. 22 - Chewsville, MD , . No. Unknown - Boonesboro, MD, [Photo caption reads] , A photograph depicting the no. 14 cannon installed at Fort Rosecrans, Battery McGrath, 1910. Photo Courtesy of San Diego History Center, Historical Plaque Thanks to Generous Contributions from: , Indiana Moose Lodge #174 , Indiana Eagles FOE #1468 , In Memory of: LTC Anthony F. Lenzi by (his children) , Arlene L. Miller, Anthony J. Lenzi , Colonial Auto Group , VFW Post 1989, Indiana, Pennsylvania , American Legion Post 493, Homer City, Pennsylvania,