"Realistic Expectations of Battery Fire on Sailing Ships?" Topic
8 Posts
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| DevoutDavout | 30 Dec 2025 12:04 a.m. PST |
Hello I was wondering, and certainly not knowledgeable on the topic enough to do more than guess, what the realistic expectation of a battery of artillery firing from land would be on a sailing target. Theres a lot of room in there for variables, but squinting eyes, say a 12 pound large battery, firing from a somewhat elevated fortress position one might think of. The ship is I guess an average size or call it small rate. At what point would your more educated thought be, that this would have any substantial effect? Would it have any actual suppressive capability? Id imagine that would take a lot of guns. Would it have any chance to cause enough damage to be worthwhile outside of directly off shore? I understand the impact of a broadside enough that even at close range you arent guaranteed to sink the thing. At what range would you say it goes from effective to, pot shots but we are keeping the men busy? 800 yards? Just an interesting thought I had and figured more knowledgeable folks might be interested in sharing thoughts and humoring it. |
| advocate | 30 Dec 2025 1:18 a.m. PST |
Can't answer for ranges, but harbours were frequently defended by shore batteries so I guess they were effective. They were often equipped with guns heavier than 12 pounders and were on stable platforms. If prepared they could fire heated shot.
Caveat: most of what I have said has been gleaned from fictional accounts. |
| CAPTAIN BEEFHEART | 30 Dec 2025 4:55 a.m. PST |
I've been to a couple of forts in New England, and I would say they are well positioned to mutilate any ship that passes by. Mind you, it would depend on if they had the required amount of personnel an ordinance. If it is a seafront fort, range can be argued but if it is a river fortress, forget it. |
 Parzival  | 30 Dec 2025 6:09 a.m. PST |
Washington established batteries on the Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston in March of 1776, causing the British to abandoned the city and harbor entirely, never to return again (literally never). Clearly they had great respect (even fear) of artillery strikes against their ships.
link In the War of 1812 American battery fire from Fort Bowyer (US, near Mobile) in September 1814 caused the attacking HMS Hermes to ground herself, and forced the crew to abandon her and set her ablaze to avoid her being captured by the Americans. Unable to capture the fort, and out of fear of its batteries, the British abandoned their original plan to capture Mobile and use it as a staging and supply line for the eventual attempt on New Orleans.
link At Fort McHenry, the mere existence of the batteries there prevented the British attempt the capture or destroy Baltimore. The British Navy tried to destroy the fort with multiple bombardments, but famously failed to do so, and lost many barges (and men) to the fort's guns, as well as those of other shore batteries nearby. The British did bombard the fort from outside the fort's cannon range, but ineffectively. They did not approach closer, out of fear of the fort's cannon.
link And so on. Yes, shore-based battery fire can be quite effective against wooden sailing ships, and naval commanders of the time had a healthy and well-deserved fear of it. |
| OSCS74 | 30 Dec 2025 6:24 a.m. PST |
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| 79thPA | 30 Dec 2025 7:20 a.m. PST |
I think a long 12 pdr would double that distance. Depending, you will also 18 and 24 pdrs, etc. |
 Grelber | 30 Dec 2025 9:46 a.m. PST |
I visited the Greek port of Hydra some years ago. Instead of earthworks or a star fort, they had what looked like extra-large sangars that could probably have held two guns each. They were part way up the mountain, so they would have been firing down on ship decks, and the ships might have had difficulties elevating their guns enough to fire back. The guns would seem to have been something of a deterrent. Grelber |
| DeRuyter | 30 Dec 2025 10:04 a.m. PST |
Shore batteries could fire quite far. See the below site on smoothbore cannon ballistics which notes that 3nm territorial limit was established in part based on the extreme range of shore batteries with 64lb guns: arc.id.au/CannonBallistics.html Accuracy at extreme range is another issue but even a few hits could seriously damage a ship or its' rigging, especially if the battery was firing heated shot. |
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takes another stab at building a more perfect flight stand.
