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RE: Firing a 17th century gun
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 2:56 am
by Orm
I am sure that when the analysis and report is done we will learn a lot more about the effect of the splinters.
But they talked some about the effect of the splinters and their conclusion was that the splinters dealt a lot more damage to the crew than the actual cannon balls. Imagine the horror of being on the receiving end of a broadside. On the gun decks there must have been splinters flying everywhere.
Eddie Jordan - Ex F1 Team Owner
He explained what horror it must have been on the gun deck during a battle. Darkness, smoke, the sound, and splinters flying as shrapnel.
RE: Firing a 17th century gun
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 3:02 am
by warspite1
ORIGINAL: Orm
I am sure that when the analysis and report is done we will learn a lot more about the effect of the splinters.
But they talked some about the effect of the splinters and their conclusion was that the splinters dealt a lot more damage to the crew than the actual cannon balls. Imagine the horror of being on the receiving end of a broadside. On the gun decks there must have been splinters flying everywhere.
Eddie Jordan - Ex F1 Team Owner
He explained what horror it must have been on the gun deck during a battle. Darkness, smoke, the sound, and splinters flying as shrapnel.
warspite1
Exactly. With space so crowded, some of those splinters are going to hit pointy end first (and that is not going to end well for the recipient) but pieces of wood, even if side-on, travelling at that speed, are going to cause injury / serious injury / death to sailors with no means of protection.
RE: Firing a 17th century gun
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:02 am
by rhondabrwn
This is very interesting as I've been reading Eric Flint's 17th Century alternative history novels (Ring of Fire series) beginning with this one:
http://www.amazon.com/1632-Ring-Fire-Se ... B00BEQLQNE
which is FREE on Amazon at the moment. So far I've read 1632, 1633, and am half way through 1634. Lots of discussion about weapons and their effects. This is a fascinating read. I never knew (or cared much about) The 30 Year's War, but now I'm immersing myself in the history behind these novels.
There seems to be quite a cult following and a proliferation of co-authors, short story anthologies, and parallel novels. Not sure how far I'm going to be able to follow along!
RE: Firing a 17th century gun
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:11 am
by wings7
Interesting...thanks for sharing Orm!
Patrick
RE: Firing a 17th century gun
Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 11:01 am
by ronweasley
Geez...amazing it still worked :/