Q&A · 10:25-11:06

What happens when a broadside gun is disabled

Age-of-sail gun crews could alter elevation but had little practical ability to shift a gun sideways after a neighbouring piece was lost.

Question

Could an age-of-sail crew redirect a gun if the opposing gun was knocked out?

Short answer

Not much sideways; manual handling and the ship's motion made it more practical to keep firing and adjust elevation when possible.

Notes

Manual traversing equipment and the mass of the guns limited lateral adjustment. Rolling seas could also change the apparent relative height of decks, so crews continued firing rather than expecting a neat replacement firing angle.