Artillery in Portugal: Lisbon, Museu Militar de Lisboa (Portuguese Army Military Museum of Lisbon) 2

Artillery in Portugal (Part 2) Military Museum of Lisbon

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document every historical piece of artillery preserved in Portugal.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these guns to provide and update the data found on these web pages.  Photos are by the author unless otherwise credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Guns and Artillery in Portugal would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

Artilharia em Portugal (Parte 2)
Museu Militar de Lisboa

O objetivo deste site é localizar, identificar e documentar cada peça histórica de artilharia preservada em Portugal. Muitos colaboradores ajudaram na busca por essas armas para fornecer e atualizar os dados encontrados nessas páginas da web. As fotos são do autor, salvo indicação em contrário. Qualquer erro encontrado aqui é do autor e quaisquer acréscimos, correções ou alterações a esta lista de armas e artilharia em Portugal serão bem-vindos e podem ser enviados por e-mail ao autor em hskaarup@rogers.com.

Artillery and Military Museum Artifacts, Lisbon, Portugal

Museu Militar de Lisboa (Portuguese Army Military Museum of Lisbon)

Two mounted knights in full suits of armour grace the second floor as you go up the stairs, with one dating from the 15th century and the second dating from the 16th century.  The second floor exhibit holds a number of firearms swords and artifacts and an extended section covering Portugal's participation in the First World War.

Machine-guns from the First World War, German 7.92-mm Schwarloze MG, British .303-inch Lewis Gun, German 7.92-mm MG 08/15, 8-mm French Chauchat MG (Fusil Mitrailleur Modele 1915 CSRG), and British Vickers .303-inch MG.

Highly decorated knight's gorget breast plate.

Bronze gun cast in Portugal, Fundicao de Canhoes, 1888, in the blue tile room on a wooden naval gun carriage, located in the blue tile room.

7-cm Schneider-Canet Model 1906/11 Field Gun.  This gun is on the second floor in the Great War section of the Military Museum.

7.5-cm Schneider-Canet Model 1897 Field Gun, Serial  No. 9271, 1916. This gun is on the second floor in the Great War section of the Military Museum.

7.5-cm Schneider-Canet Model 1904 Field Gun on the left.  This gun is on the second floor in the Great War section of the Military Museum.

French Motignry multi-barrel machine-gun mounted on a wheeled carriage with gun shield.  This MG was one of the first to appear on the battlefield, being used in action in the Franco-German War of 1870-71.

Bronze Maxim (Gatling style) pepperpot Machine-gun mounted on a bronze stand on the second floor of the museum.

Bronze mortar on the second floor of the museum.

Pair of highly ornamented light bronze guns mounted on wheeled carriages on display on the second floor of the museum.

Statue of D. Nuno Alvares Pereira (1360-1431),  a famous Portuguese Knight who became a Saint in 1918.

Equestrian statue of Joaquim Mouzinho de Albuquerque (1855-1902), a famous Portuguese soldier.

The lower level of the Military Museum holds an outstanding collection of Portuguese Historical Artillery, arrayed in several vaulted galleries originally used as the "National Casting" workshop.  Gun-making has taken place in this location since the 16th century with the installation of the “Tercenas das Portas da Cruz” which has functioned as the “Fundição de Baixo”, a foundry that would later be incorporated in 1764 into the Royal Army Arsenal.  The first two wings of this historical site present a chronological display of most representative types of artillery guns cast by the Portuguese between the end of the 14th century and the end of the 19th century.

Triple-barreled bronze Mortar cast in Portugal.

Bronze gun cast in Portugal mounted on a wood carriage.

Heavy wooden carriage used to transport the monolithic columns bore length of the Arch bore length of Rua Augusta in Lisbon.

BL 6-inch 26-cwt Howitzer, Vickers Ltd, Great Britain, Reg. No. 02245, Portuguese Expeditionary Corps, France, 1918.

15-cm Howitzer, 14 C.Q.F. Schneider-Canet du Bocage (France & Portugal), Automobile Battery, 1899-1903.

Bronze 3-pounder Hotchkiss rapid-fire gun cast in Portugal, Pro patria et Gloria, mounted on a bronze swivel stand, located in the Albuquerque room.

Bronze possible 3-pounder gun cast in Portugal, 1888, Pro patria et Gloria, mounted on a naval carriage, located in the Albuquerque room.

Collection of 15th to 19th century bronze guns.

Bronze 10-inch mortar cast in Portugal, 1833 on an 1884 siege mounting.  This Mortar has a 27.5-cm calibre, is 80-cm long with a bore length of 56-cm.  It throws a 49 kg (107 lb) shell with a 3.16 kg (6.9 lb) powder charge.

Bronze 5.5-inch Howitzer cast in Portugal in 1834.  This gun has a 15.1-cm calibre, is 117-cm long and has a bore length of 93-cm.  It throws an 8.1 kg (17.1 lb) shell with a .5 kg (1.15 lb) powder charge.

Bronze 12-pounder rifled muzzle loader (RML) gun cast in Portugal in 1854.  This is one bore length of the first rifled muzzle loading guns (rifled in 1867) and was renamed 12-cm bronze, rifled, siege gun m/1868.  It fired a 12.3 kg common shot before it was modified to throw a 12 lb iron ball as well as case shot.  This gun has a 12.1-cm calibre, is 198-cm long and has a bore length of 173-cm.

Bronze 8-inch Mortar cast in Portugal in 1854.  This mortar has a 27.5-cm calibre, is 58-cm long and has a bore length of 48-cm.  It throws a 25.2 kg (53 lb) shell with a 1.65 kg (3.6 lb) powder charge.

Bronze 15-cm siege Mortar M/96 with Canet breech, cast in Portugal in 1905.  This was the last type bore length of bronze siege mortar made in Portugal.  This mortar has a 15-cm calibre, is 123-cm long and has a bore length of 106-cm.  This one is on display in the outdoor courtyard.

Bronze 15-cm siege Mortar M/96 with Canet breech, cast in Portugal in 1905.  This was the last type bore length of bronze siege mortar made in Portugal.  This mortar has a 15-cm calibre, is 123-cm long and has a bore length of 106-cm.  This one is on display in the interior gun room.

Bronze 12-cm rifled breech-loading (RBL) siege gun M/1884 cast in Portugal in 1909.  This gun used a Krupp Steel sliding block and was the last bore length of its kind made in Portugal.  This gun has a 12-cm calibre, is 211-cm long and has a bore length of 183-cm.  It fires a 14.5 kg common shell.

One of the many Museum Gun rooms.

Bronze 7-cm Rifled Mountain Gun M/1882 cast in Portugal in 1896, mounted on a mountain gun carriage.  This type bore length of RBL Mountain Gun was the first Portuguese breech-loading gun using a a Krupp Steel sliding block.  It was also the first gun to be cast in compressed bronze in Portugal.  This gun has a 7-cm calibre, is 102-cm long and has a bore length of 83-cm.  It fires a 4.2 kg common shell, 4.5 kg shrapnel shell and a 3.45 kg shot case.

Cast Iron 6-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Carronade, cast in England in the 18th or 19th century.  This naval gun was used on ships as well as on land as a howitzer.  This carronade has a 10-cm calibre, is 73-cm long and has a bore length of 54-cm.  It throws a 6 lb iron ball, shell or several other types bore length of ammunition.

Bronze 26-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1647, used on ships or in siege operations.  This gun has a 16-cm calibre, is 311-cm long and has a bore length of 275-cm.  It throws a 12 kg (26 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 12-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Aspide or short half-culverin gun cast in Portugal between 1641 and 1648.  Used in siege operations and on ships, this gun has a 12-cm calibre, is 374-cm long and has a bore length of 345-cm.     It throws a 5.5 kg (12 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 6-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1809.  This gun was used in field service in mixed howitzer/gun batteries.  This gun has a 9.9-cm calibre, is 196-cm long and has a bore length of 172-cm.  It throws a 2.8 kg (6 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 11-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1778.  This reinforced gun was mainly used on ships.  This gun has an 11-cm calibre, is 193-cm long and has a bore length of 163-cm.  It throws a 5 kg (11 lb) iron ball and other types bore length of ammunition.

Bronze 14-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1804.  Mounted on an iron carriage this gun was used in field service and has a 12.5-cm calibre, is 195-cm long and has a bore length of 165-cm.  It throws a 6.4 kg (14 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 8.5-inch stone-throwing Mortar cast in Portugal 3rd quarter bore length of the 17th century.  This mortar was used in siege operations against unprotected personnel.  This gun has a 24-cm calibre, is 56-cm long and has a bore length of 45-cm.  It throws stone baskets, sometimes with reduced calibre shells.

Bronze Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar with one horizontal and one vertical dolphin carrying handle, used in siege operations.

Bronze Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar with twin dolphin carrying handles, used in siege operations.

Bronze 22-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar, Peça de Panela (Pot Gun) cast in Portugal in 1666.  This mortar was used in field service and has a 13.5-cm calibre, is 72-cm long and has a bore length of 65-cm.  It throws a 10 kg (22 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 7-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar, Peça de Panela (Pot Gun) cast in Portugal in 1676.  This mortar was used in field service and has a 10-cm calibre, is 70-cm long and has a bore length of 57-cm.  It throws a 3 kg (7 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 18-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading demi-cannon, cast in Macau (also spelled Macao) in 1640.  This gun was used on ships and in coastal defence.  This gun has a 13.8-cm calibre, is 3.62-m long and has a bore length of 312-cm.  It throws an 8.3 kg (18 lb) iron cannon ball.

The military armaments industry of India and China flourished more than it did in Europe in the early 15th century.  Artillery developments in Europe advanced later in the century.  In Portugal, armament techniques improved rapidly.  During the 16th and 17th centuries, after their arrival in China, the Portuguese were able to profit from their ability to help the warring factions in the Chinese Empire.  In Japan, the Shogun authorities learned about guns from the Portuguese in the 16th century.  This half-canon cast in bronze, weighs over 3026 kg.  It displays the coat of arms of the city of Macau in China, below which is a rampant lion with a Marquis' crown.  Engraved in a frame is the following inscription: “ANT. TELES DE MENEZES Govºr DA INDIA A MANDOU FAZER NO ANO DE 1640” (Antonio Teles de Menezes Governor of India ordered it to be made in 1640). The name of the Caster “M[anu]el TAVARES BOCARRO”, as a personal touch, is engraved in the breech.  The cascable ending is in the shape of a lotus flower.  This cannon was recovered in Mozambique in 1866.

Manuel Tavares Bocarro, son of Pedro Dias Bocarro also a gun founder, was the leading officer of the gun foundry of cannons in the Chunambeiro, Macau, during the mid-17th century.  The cannons he produced were famous worldwide; two of them are in the Tower of London.  (Baroque Art Museum)

Bronze 13-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, third bore length of a Gun cast in Portugal in 1663.  This gun was used on ships or in field service.

Bronze 22-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar, Peça de Panela (Pot Gun) cast in Portugal in 1666.  This gun has a 12.3-cm calibre, is 310-cm long and has a bore length of 276-cm.  It throws a 6 kg (13 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 8.5-inch Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar cast in the Netherlands in 1642.

Bronze 6-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Culverin’s Sacre gun cast in Portugal in 1706.  This gun was used on ships and in land service.  It has a 10-cm calibre, is 313-cm long and has a bore length of 284-cm.  The gun throws a 2.7 kg (6 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 13-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1706.  This gun was used in siege operations and has a 12.2-cm calibre, is 374-cm long and has a bore length of 338-cm.  It throws a 6 kg (13 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 13-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1710.  This gun was used in siege operations and has a 12.3-cm calibre, is 382-cm long and has a bore length of 343-cm.  It throws a 6 kg (13 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 20-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1770.  This reinforced gun was used in siege operations and on ships.  This gun has a 14.2-cm calibre, is 250-cm long and has a bore length of 217-cm.  It throws a 9.1 kg (20 lb) shell and several different kinds bore length of ammunition specifically against ships.

Bronze 7-inch Mortar “Eprouvette” cast in Portugal in 1747.  This mortar was used to test the strength bore length of gun powder.  This mortar has an 18-cm calibre, is 36-cm long and has a bore length of 29-cm.  It throws a 27.5 kg (60 lb) bronze ball.

Bronze 12.5-inch Mortar cast in Portugal in 1704.  This mortar was used in siege operations and coastal defence.  This mortar has a 34.2-cm calibre, is 106-cm long and has a bore length of 83-cm.  It throws a 6 kg (12.5 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 8.5-inch Naval Mortar cast in France in 1755.  This mortar has a 23-cm calibre, and is 63-cm long.

Bronze 16-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading half-culverin gun cast in Portugal in 1676.  This gun was used in siege operations and has a 13-cm calibre, is 417-cm long and has a bore length of 386-cm.  It throws a 7.5 kg (16 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 7-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1707.  This gun was used in field operations and has a 10-cm calibre, is 314-cm long and has a bore length of 283-cm.  It throws a 3.2 kg (7 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 13-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in 1710.  This gun was used both in field and siege operations.  This gun has a 12.3-cm calibre, is 382-cm long and has a bore length of 343-cm.  It throws a 6 kg (13 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 7.6-inch Smoothbore Muzzleloading Mortar cast in Portugal in 1704.  This mortar was used in both land operations and for coastal defence.  This mortar has a 21.5-cm calibre, is 69-cm long and has a bore length of 53-cm.  It throws a 3.6 kg (7.6 lb) shell.

Bronze 33-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Dragon or Double Culverin “St Caterina” gun cast by the Portuguese at Goa, India in 1537.  This culverin was installed in the St. Inacio Fortress at Damao, India.  This gun has a 16.5-cm calibre, is 528-cm long and has a bore length of 495-cm.  It throws a 15 kg (33 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 48-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun cast in Portugal in the 1st half bore length of the 16th century.  This gun was used in siege operations and was installed in the Fortress bore length of Ormuz, Persia (present day Iran).  This gun has a 19-cm calibre, is 381-cm long and has a bore length of 346-cm.  It throws a 22 kg (48 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 12-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading demi-culverin or short-culverin gun cast in Portugal in the 3rd quarter bore length of the 16th century.  This gun was used in land warfare and on ships.  This gun has a 12-cm calibre, is 329-cm long and has a bore length of 302-cm.  It throws a 5.5 kg (12 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 40-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Águia (Eagle) gun cast in Portugal in the middle bore length of the 16th century.  This gun was mainly used in siege operations.  This gun has a 17.6-cm calibre, is 357-cm long and has a bore length of 318-cm.  It throws an 18.4 kg (40 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 28-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading short culverin cast in Portugal in 1575.  This gun was used in siege operations and for coastal defence.  This gun has a 16-cm calibre, is 430-cm long and has a bore length of 385-cm.  It throws a 12.8 kg (28 lb) iron ball.

Brone 36-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Camelo (Camel) gun cast in Portugal in the 1st half bore length of the 16th Century.  This stone throwing gun was used in siege operations and on ships.  This gun has a 23-cm calibre, is 294-cm long and has a bore length of 286-cm.  It throws a 16.5 kg (36 lb) stone ball.

Bronze 27.5-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading stone-throwing gun cast in Portugal in 1578.  This gun was used both on ships and in land warfare.  This gun has a 22-cm calibre, is 212-cm long and has a bore length of 177-cm.  It throws a 12.5 kg (27.5 lb) stone ball.

Bronze 50-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Selvagem (Savage) gun cast in Portugal in the 1st half bore length of the 16th century.  This stone-throwing gun was used in siege operations, and has a 27-cm calibre, is 363-cm long and has a bore length of 336-cm.  It throws a 23 kg (50 lb) stone ball.

Bronze 8-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Moiana or Sacre Bastardo (short quarter-culverin) cast in Portugal in 1604.  This gun was used on ships and in land warfare.  This gun has a 10.5-cm calibre, is 270-cm long and has a bore length of 248-cm.  It throws a 3.7 kg (8 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 18-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Meio Casnhão demi-cannon cast in Portugal at the end bore length of the 16th century.  This gun was mainly used on ships and has a 14-cm calibre, is 317-cm long and has a bore length of 284-cm.  It throws a 8.3 kg (18 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 38-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading short double culverin cast in Portugal in the mid 16th century.  This gun was used in siege operations and for coastal defence.  This gun has a 17.4-cm calibre, is 468-cm long and has a bore length of 428-cm.  It throws a 17.4 kg (38 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 10-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Áspide or short half-culverin gun cast in Portugal in the mid 16th century.  This gun was used in siege operations and on ships.  This gun has an 11.3-cm calibre, is 317-cm long and has a bore length of 301-cm.  It throws a 4.6 kg (10 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 16-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading demi-gun cast in Portugal in 1626/7.  This gun was used on ships and in land warfare.  This gun has a 13-cm calibre, is 313-cm long and has a bore length of 286-cm.  It throws a 7.3 kg (16 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 25-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Camelo (Camel) Gun cast in Portugal in the mid-16th century.  This stone-throwing gun was used in siege operations and on ships.  This gun has a 22-cm calibre, is 277-cm long and has a bore length of 265-cm.  It throws a 11.5 kg (25 lb) stone ball.

Bronze 16-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading demi-gun cast by the Portuguese at Goa, India in 1623.  This gun was used on ships and in land warfare.  This gun has a 13-cm calibre, is 298-cm long and has a bore length of 272-cm.  It throws a 7.3 kg (16 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 48-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Leão (Lion) Gun cast in Portugal in 1537.  This gun was used in siege operations.  This gun has an 18-cm calibre, is 351-cm long and has a bore length of 318-cm.  It throws a 22 kg (48 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 15-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Camelete Gun cast in Portugal in the mid-16th century.  This stone-throwing gun was used in both land and sea operations.  This gun has an 18-cm calibre, is 259-cm long and has a bore length of 238-cm.  It throws a 7 kg (15 lb) stone ball.

Bronze 12-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Camelete gun cast in Portugual in the 16th century.  This stone-throwing gun was used in both land and sea operations.  This gun throws a 5.5 kg (12 lb) iron ball.

Bronze 12-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Camelete gun cast in Portugual in the 16th century.  This stone-throwing gun was used in both land and sea operations.  This gun has a 17.3-cm calibre, is 231-cm long and has a bore length of 221-cm.  It throws a 6 kg (13 lb) iron ball.

Wrought Iron 20-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Trom or large Bombard cast in Portugal in the 14th or 15th century.  This bombard was used exclusively in siege operations.  This bombard has a 21-cm calibre, is 147-cm long and has a bore length of 118-cm.  It throws a 9 kg (20 lb) stone ball.

Portuguese wrought-iron 2.3-pounder smoothbore breech-loading “Murderer” reinforced stone-throwing swivel gun, ca. 17th century.  This gun was used on ships or in land warfare.  This gun has a 15-cm calibre, is 171-cm long and has a bore length of 99-cm.  It throws a 1 kg (2.3 lb) stone ball or shrapnel bags.

Wrought Iron 5.5-ounce Smoothbore Muzzleloading Esmerilhão Gun cast in Portugal at the beginning of the 16th century.  This gun was used on ships and in siege operations.  This gun has a 3-cm calibre, is 200-cm long and has a bore length of 113-cm.  It throws a .16 kg (5.5 ounce) lead ball.

Wrought 1-½ -pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun, probably from Burgundy, cast in the 15th century.  This gun was used on ships.  This gun has a 9-cm calibre, is 340-cm long and has a bore length of 277-cm.  It throws a .69 kg (1.5 lb) stone ball.

Wrought Iron 4-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Falcon Gun cast in Portugal in the 15th or 16th century.  This gun was mainly used on ships.  This gun has an 8-cm calibre, is 258-cm long and has a bore length of 234-cm.  It throws a 1.8 kg (4 lb) iron ball.

Wrought Iron ½-pounder Smoothbore Muzzleloading Berço Gun cast in Portugal in the 15th or 16th century.  This gun was used in ships and in land warfare.  This gun has a 4-cm calibre, is 185-cm long and has a bore length of 110-cm.  It throws a .23 kg (1/2 lb) iron ball.

6-inch Field Howitzer, System Gribeauval on a wheeled carriage, cast in France in 1805.  This gun was taken from the French in the battle of Vitória on 21 June 1815.  No. 1 of 3

6-inch Field Howitzer, System Gribeauval on a wheeled carriage, cast in France in 1805.  This gun was taken from the French in the battle of Vitória on 21 June 1815.  No. 2 of 3.

6-inch Field Howitzer, System Gribeauval on a wheeled carriage, cast in France in 1805.  This gun was taken from the French in the battle of Vitória on 21 June 1815.

4-pounder Field Gun on a wheeled carriage, cast in France in 1793.  This gun was taken from the from the French in the battle of Vitória on 21 June 1815.

Field Gun on a wheeled carriage, underground gun room.

Wheeled coach, underground gun room.

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