carronades became popular on british merchant ships during american revolutionary war. lightweight gun needed small gun crew , devastating @ short range suited defending merchant ships against french , american privateers. french came in possession of first carronades in december 1779 capture of brig finkastre frigate précieuse, weapon judged ineffective , not adopted them @ time. however, in action of 4 september 1782, impact of single carronade broadside fired @ close range frigate hms rainbow under henry trollope caused wounded french captain capitulate , surrender hébé after short fight.
the royal navy reluctant adopt guns, due mistrust of carron company, had developed reputation incompetence , commercial sharp dealing. carronades not counted in numbering guns of ship. lord sandwich started mounting them in place of light guns on forecastle , quarterdeck of ships. proved effectiveness in battle. french gun foundries unable produce equivalents twenty years, carronades gave british warships significant tactical advantage during latter part of 18th century—though french ships mounted type of weapon in same role, obusier de vaisseau. hms victory used 2 68-pounder carronades carried on forecastle great effect @ battle of trafalgar, clearing gun deck of bucentaure firing round shot , keg of 500 musket balls through bucentaure s stern windows.
the carronade successful , adopted, , few experimental ships fitted carronade-only armament, such hms glatton , hms rainbow. glatton, fourth-rate ship 56 guns, had more destructive broadside hms victory, first-rate ship 100 guns. glatton , rainbow both successful in battle, though carronade s lack of range arguable tactical disadvantage of arrangement against opponent keep out of carronade range, within range of long guns.
in 1810s , 1820s, tactics started place greater emphasis on accuracy of long-range gunfire, , less on weight of broadside. indeed, captain david porter of uss essex complained when navy replaced 12-pounder long guns 32-pounder carronades. carronade disappeared royal navy 1850s after development of steel-jacketed cannon william george armstrong , joseph whitworth. carronades nevertheless still used in american civil war in 1860s. last known use of carronade in conflict during first boer war. in siege of potchefstroom, boers used ou griet against british fort, antique carronade mounted on wagon axle.
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