Tampion

File:16 mortars July 76.jpg

Limbo Mortars sealed with tampions

Template:About A tampion or tompion (in the Royal Navy)<ref name="Simmons p. 163">Simmons, 1812, p. 163.</ref> is a wooden plug, or a metal, canvas, rubber, or plastic cover, for the muzzle of a gun, howitzer, or mortar.<ref name="Duane p. 678">Duane, 1810, p. 678.</ref> 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 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.<ref name="Morris p. 110">Morris, 2006, p. 110.</ref>

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.<ref name="Simmons p. 65">Simmons, 1812, p. 65.</ref>

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 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 in the shape of a tampion.

Further reading

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Images

• HMS Victory cannon.jpg

  The muzzle of a 24-pounder cannon on the preserved ship of the line, HMS Victory. The red tampion is secured with a cord

• Rodman Beatty.jpg

  The tampions of the 15-inch guns on the British battleship Template:HMS in 1917

• HMAS Australia SLV H98.100 3193.jpeg

  A sailor polishing the tampion of an 8-inch gun on the Australian heavy cruiser, HMAS Australia in the early 1950s.

• 17 brass cannon July 76.jpg

  Tampion of a brass cannon with the crest of the British Leander-class frigate, HMS Bacchante in 1976

• HMS Argyll Tampion MOD 45156532.jpg

  Tampion on the 4.5 inch gun of the British Type 23 frigate, HMS Argyll in 2014

• USS Missouri forward turrets.jpg

  The unadorned tampions of the 16-inch guns on the US battleship, USS Missouri in 2002

• Prairial 1.jpg

  The 100 mm gun of the French frigate Prairial sealed by a tampion

• Tape de bouche Jeanne.jpg

  Tampion of the French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc

• Tape-rubis.jpg

  Tampion of the French submarine Rubis

• Tapeemeraude.jpg

  Tampion of the French submarine Émeraude

• HMS Duke of York gunners A 021168.jpg

  Rain covers on HMS Duke of York

• HMSDukeOfYorkNew14inchGun1942.jpg

  Another type of rain cover on the Duke of York