Key Point: Carronades are short, large-bore cannons developed in the late 18th century, used on warships for close-range artillery fire and broadside attacks.
In this installment on naval weapons, we will be taking a look at carronades. You will see what were carronades and how carronades were used during the Age of Sail. Now, before we take a look at this very useful type of cannon, let’s first define what a carronade was. So …
What are carronades?
Carronades were a type of short-barreled naval gun that was developed in Scotland in the late 18th century. Carronades were designed to be lighter and more maneuverable than traditional naval guns. This made them ideal for use on the decks of ships. Carronades were typically mounted on swivels or sliding carriages, which allowed them to be aimed quickly and fired in any direction. They were highly effective at close range due to their large bore size and heavy shot.
That was the short version, let’s go into a bit more detail right now. Starting with the origin of carronades …
The Origin Of Carronades
The origin of carronades can be traced to Scotland. More specifically late 18th century Scotland. A Scotsman by the name of Dr. John Roebuck created the “Carron Company” in 1759. His company quickly became one of the most successful ironworks in the country. By the 1770s they started experimenting with lighter cannons appropriate for use in the Navy. And by the early 1780s, they’d done it.
They introduced the first carronades in the early 1780s and they were an immediate success. And of course, were quickly adopted by the British Navy for use on the high seas.
That was the origin part. Let’s examine the dimensions and specifications of an average carronade.
Specifications And Design Of Carronades
An average 18-pound Carronade was roughly 4 feet in length and weighed close to 1200 pounds. The bore diameter was 5.8 inches with a muzzle velocity of around 1,400 feet per second.
Carronades typically ranged in caliber from 18 to 68 pounds and had a maximum range of about 1,000 yards. Despite its weight, it was still considered a lighter version of a cannon. A carroande was made from cast iron which made them much lighter than traditional guns made of bronze or brass.
For added maneuverability on the deck of the ship, carronades were placed on swivels or sliding carriages, which allowed the “small” guns (carronades) to be quickly aimed in any direction. Which was useful in a naval engagement.
And also made the movement of carronades on decks a lot easier.
The Carronade Design
A carronade was designed to be used on the decks of naval ships. That is why they were designed with a low center of gravity. The unique shape of the carronade allowed for the weight to be evenly distributed on the deck.
Which also helped with the mobility of the cannon on the deck of the ship. The carronade’s barrel would typically be wider than a traditional gun of the era. This wider barrel allowed for a larger powder charge and a heavier shot to be fired. While still maintaining the short length and lightweight that made carronades so effective
A Key Advantage Of A Carronade
A key advantage of carronades was their ability to fire a larger shot than traditional guns of the same caliber. Meaning, that an 18-pound carronade could actually fire a shot that was roughly equivalent to that of a 32-pound long gun. This made the carronade highly effective at close range. At these close ranges, their heavy shot could cause significant damage to an enemy ship’s hull and rigging.
How Carronades Were Used
During a naval engagement, carronades would be fired in a broadside alongside other types of cannons. Carronades’ short-range and large shots made them particularly effective at damaging the enemy’s rigging and personnel on deck.
While the long guns would be used to target the enemy’s hull and cause more serious damage. So, if you picture it like this, the heavier cannons were used to damage the hull of the ship while the carronades were used to fire on the deck damaging rigging and anyone else on board.
One of the advantages of carronades was that they could be fired more quickly than long guns since they had a shorter reload time and required less gunpowder. This made carronades useful for delivering a quick and devastating barrage of fire at the beginning of a naval engagement. That made the sailors on board run for cover.
And if the distance between the ships increased they switched to long guns as the distance between the ships increased. As you can see it was mostly used as an anti-personnel weapon to clear the enemy deck at shorter distances.
What Kind Of Projectiles Did Carronades Use?
Well, the carronade used 3 different shots when firing.
The primary projectile was simply a round shot. This was an iron ball fired from the cannon. Seems simple, right? That’s because it was. It was designed to damage structures on the deck.
The second and third types were meant as more anti-personnel projectiles. The grapeshot and the canister shot. Both had small round balls that when fired spread out in every direction and injured many people on the opposing side. Similar to how shotguns in the modern era work.
The type of projectile used depended on the purpose of the shooters but generally, all three were used.
Since, it seems to have been a powerful weapon, were there any disadvantages to the carronades? Let’s see …
Drawbacks Of Carronades
There were a few drawbacks to the carronade. Among them is range. It could not fire as far as the bigger guns. The carronade was more of a close-quarter weapon.
The second one was connected to its design. The shorter barrel meant the force caused by the firing took a toll on the barrel more quickly. Which meant carronades had to be replaced quicker than with other cannons. So maintenance costs were quite high.
And the third disadvantage was the immense recoil. Carronades fired massive projectiles which of course caused a massive recoil that could damage the operators if they weren’t careful.
So, that’s about it when it comes to the disadvantages of carronades. Now, let’s see why carronades stopped being used.
Why Did The Carronades Fell Out Of Use?
This one is quite simple. The carronades stopped being used simply because other naval guns got better. And since other naval cannons have gotten better ships started fighting from greater and greater distances.
Meaning long-range battles became more common. At the same time, wooden ships were replaced by iron steamships. Which made the carronades less effective. In short, the world just moved on. Hence why the carronades were placed in the dustbin of history.
In Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you learned a thing or two about carronades. And if you wish to learn about weapons used in the “Age of Sail” I suggest you take a look at my article on cutlasses, right here. Another naval weapon was also used for close-quarters fighting.
Or take a look at the chain shot. This type of projectile, while used in land battles occasionally really made its name as a naval weapon during the Age of Sail. Go here to see the details.
Take care!
Source: “The Age of the Ship of the Line: The British and French Navies, 1650-1815” by Jonathan R. Dull