What cannon were the fleets using?

What types of cannon did the ships carry, and did that affect the battle?

Both bronze and iron cannon were in use, but Commonwealth wartime experience gave its ships an important practical edge in gunnery and crews.

Both bronze and iron cannon appeared because the fleets were fighting during a period of technological transition. Material alone did not determine effectiveness. Years of Civil War had driven Commonwealth purchasing, gun handling, and the selection of personnel who already understood combat. That institutional experience improved accuracy and reload speed, making the Commonwealth's nominal armament advantage more useful in practice.