Fireworks Powder

[SOLANCO]

In one of the Patrick O'Brian books Cpt. Aubrey buys fireworks powder for his ship's guns. Don't remember why and it doesn't matter.
In the book the guns' projectiles are accompanied by muzzle blast in various bright colors. I recently acquired a small cannon and of course I am wondering about this.
Are there chemicals, and if so, which ones could I use to do this?

 

[rafterob]

Search you tube home made fireworks and you'll find all kinds of interesting information. these folks will spend an hour or more making a firework that goes up in 10 seconds.

 

[fleener]

various metals give you the colors.

Fleener

 

[Loyalist Dave]

In one of the Patrick O'Brian books Cpt. Aubrey buys fireworks powder for his ship's guns. Don't remember why and it doesn't matter.

Are there chemicals, and if so, which ones could I use to do this?

I remember the novel, and he bought the powder because he could find a person with powder to sell. There was a shortage, and he needed extra to train his gun crews. (iirc) A ship with well trained gun crews that is outmatched "on paper" will defeat the opponent with good sailing and excellent gunnery. Also (iirc) I think the guns would belch red, green, or blue instead of yellow as a result of the powder he used.

Anyway here's a website with a chart. Metal Salts are added to the gun powder for the color effect. Fireworks Vibrant Colors

Here's just the Color Chart

LD

 

[SOLANCO]

I remember the novel, and he bought the powder because he could find a person with powder to sell. There was a shortage, and he needed extra to train his gun crews. (iirc) A ship with well trained gun crews that is outmatched "on paper" will defeat the opponent with good sailing and excellent gunnery. Also (iirc) I think the guns would belch red, green, or blue instead of yellow as a result of the powder he used.

Anyway here's a website with a chart. Metal Salts are added to the gun powder for the color effect. Fireworks Vibrant Colors

Here's just the Color Chart

LD

Thank you!
And you are exactly right about the importance of proficiency. Which importance extends far beyond the ship's deck and the time of the Napoleonic wars.

 

[Diogenes454]

There is a CW reenactment here that does a night time cannon shoot.
Their is a lot of color in the discharge...I have been told it's fireworks in the barrel, but don't know any details