Tampion

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Mortars sealed with tampions

A tampion is wooden plug or a metal or canvas cover for the muzzle of a gun. They can be found on both land based artillery and naval guns. However, the naval tampions have developed into works of art.

Although the cannons of ship 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. Later, the invention of mobile gun turrets meant that all guns were constantly exposed to water. Hence, when not in use, naval gun were protected by wooden, and later rubber muzzle plugs. Typically, rubber tampions can be shot through in case of an emergency.

Over time, tampions were embossed or engraved with the arms of the unit, and they became collector's items. Nowadays, even warships which typically would not carry heavy guns, such as submarines, have their own badges in the shape of a tampion.

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