Essex's 32-pounder carronades gave her a nominal 640-pound close-range broadside, greater than the carronade weight of the other three vessels combined. Most of that advantage disappeared when an opponent refused to close. Phoebe carried a far heavier long-gun broadside and could make about 13 knots against Essex's roughly 11.4 knots in clean condition, with the likely difference larger because Essex's hull had not been maintained as well. Hillyar could therefore shape the engagement around reach and mobility rather than raw short-range weight. Cherub added useful pressure, while the lightly armed Essex Junior offered little practical help against the two British warships.
Chapter · 1:18:22-1:27:21
Essex's carronades create a decisive range problem
Essex carried a crushing short-range carronade broadside, while the faster Phoebe could use long guns to choose a range at which that weight of fire mattered far less.