Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:32:16-2:34:04

Did Royal Sovereign's heavier guns slow her fire?

The rebuilt first rate threw much heavier shot from the same hundred-gun count without a lower stated rate of fire.

42-Pounder GunsGun CrewsNaval ArtilleryRate Of FireRoyal Sovereign
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Question

Did Royal Sovereign's heavier rebuilt battery reduce her rate of fire?

Short answer

No; the heavier guns maintained the same stated rate of fire while delivering a much greater weight of shot.

Notes

Royal Sovereign's rebuilt battery replaced 32-, 18-, and 9-pounders with 42-, 24-, and 12-pounders while retaining 100 guns. An audience question asks whether those heavier pieces fired more slowly. The stated rate of fire remained the same. The comparison separates barrel count and firing cadence from the much larger weight of each broadside.