"Opening fire - at what ranges?" Topic

Hi all,

I am having real difficulty envisaging at what ranges ships would typically tend to open fire at each other. The accounts that I am reading seem studiously to avoid the subject.

I understand the *theoretical* ranges of guns in ideal conditions – but the conditions pertaining in warfare at sea can hardly be called ideal!

Therefore:

1. In a frigate duel in relatively calm conditions, at what range, roughly, was it worthwhile opening fire?

2. And in C18th line of battle actions, with larger ships (64s and 74s), at what ranges did ships generally engage? (I understand that Nelson was keen on very close ranges, but what about earlier actions, when French and Spanish gunnery was not so contemptible?)

Thanks in advance for any tips!

The answer depends upon three things:
What is the tactical situation?
Who is doing the shooting?
When in historical time is the action taking place?

The Allied fleet at Trafalgar opened fire upon the approaching British columns at about 1,000 yards, whereas the British held their fire until well within Pistol Shot distance.

Earlier conventional line-of battle engagements exchanged fire at ranges anywhere from 2-300 yards (Musket Shot distance and about the furthest range where hulling fire could be satisfactorily prosecuted) up to 600 yards (Point Blank distance where a satisfactory degree of general overall damage might be inflicted versus expenditure of ammunition).

Suffren, with his well-trained squadron, was known to seek a sighting range as close as Pistol Shot during the Cormandel campaign.

British ships of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic war periods would withhold their fire until the very last moment, secure in the knowledge that their ill trained opponents were unable to inflict any meaningful casualties during the approach.

The War of1812 will provides cases of American heavy frigates, on one hand, standing off at a distance and taking advantage of their heavy 24-lbr batteries and dismantling shot to cripple their opponent aloft before closing in to finish the business; then there is Lawrence in the Chesapeake and several American brig actions where the Americans drove right into Pistol Shot.

I have read of one chasing action where fire had been (unsuccessfully) opened from as far as an estimated 2,500 yards in the hope of achieving a lucky hit aloft to slow the opponent.

It's a complicated topic, but I hope the above offers some degree of perspective.

B

I've read that many British Captain's policy was to wait until they got within "pistol shot" range, which I believe was about 50yds. The French tended to fire at longer ranges aiming for the rigging.

Considering the wide adoption of carronades I believe it was fairly close.

Gents, that's magnificent. Thanks so much.

I would guess usually a ‘cable's length' or about 200 yards.