Editing Rifled muzzle loader (section)

==Royal Navy experience==
The largest rifled muzzle-loader carried on a warship was the [[RML 17.72 inch gun|17.7-inch, 100-ton Elswick]] of the 1870s, four of which were installed in each of the Italian battleships ''[[Italian ironclad Duilio|Duilio]]'' and ''[[Italian ironclad Enrico Dandolo|Enrico Dandolo]]'' (launched in 1872).  The Royal Navy at the time was restricted to the weapons produced by Woolwich Arsenal, so that the heaviest guns that could be shipped were the [[RML 16 inch 80 ton gun|80-ton 16-inch guns]] of [[HMS Inflexible (1881)|HMS ''Inflexible'']].

Introduction of the Armstrong [[British ordnance terms#RBL|rifled breechloaders (RBL)]] into the Royal Navy in 1860 was not very successful. The [[Bombardment of Kagoshima|action of Kagosima]] on 14 August 1863 led to 28 accidents in 365 rounds fired. Following this experience, the Royal Navy reverted to the muzzle-loader until the early 1880s.  Other navies, notably France, continued to develop and deploy RBLs, but they were hardly superior in rate of fire or muzzle energy to their British counterparts.

During this period rapid burning [[black powder]] was used as the propellant, and the guns had a stubby, 'soda bottle' shape giving easy access to either end for loading.  The RBLs of the time were notably weaker in the breech region, and more prone to failure.

A catastrophic accident on board [[HMS Thunderer (1872)|HMS ''Thunderer'']] in January 1879, in which a [[RML 12 inch 35 ton gun|35-ton 12-inch muzzle-loader]] [[hang fire|hung fire]] (misfired) and was subsequently double-loaded, killing eleven sailors, motivated the Admiralty to re-consider the RBL.

Improvements in breech mechanisms in the period 1860 to 1880, together with the introduction of large-grain powder, caused the Navy to re-adopt the RBL as the new powder required longer barrels which could not be withdrawn into the turret for loading.  A [[BL 12 inch Mk I – VII naval gun|new 12-inch gun]] was developed for [[HMS Edinburgh (1882)|HMS ''Edinburgh'']] in 1879, but burst during trials.  Following modifications the new weapon proved reliable.