Obusier de vaisseau

Obusier de vaisseau
Obusier de 36, modèle 1787, found on the wreck of the Golymin. On display at the Musée national de la Marine
Type	naval gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1787-1805
Used by	France
Production history
Produced	1787
Specifications
Barrel length	85 cm
Crew	5
Calibre	36-pounder

The Obusier de vaisseau was a large calibre but light piece of naval artillery mounted on French warships of the Age of sail. Designed to fire explosive shells at a low velocity, they were an answer to the carronade in the close combat and anti-personnel role. However, their intended ammunition proved too dangerous for the crew, and the French navy phased them out at the beginning of the Empire in favour of the carronade.

Accounts by British warships of the armament of captured French ships tend to describe them as carronades. However, when the description includes the remark that the weapon was brass, this suggests that it was an obusier.

Several of the guns were recovered from the wreck of the Golymin in the road of Brest, and are now on display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris and in Brest.