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The Carronades
These
were invented in 1779 and have taken their name from Carron in Stirlingshire,
where they were originally made. A short, light (1½ tons) gun, firing very
heavy 68-pound shot at close range, they were known as "Smashers" because
of their awesome firepower. On breaking the line at Trafalgar, H.M.S. Victory
fired her port carronade through the stern windows of the French flagship, the
Bucentaure, and wrought great havoc, the shot travelling the through entire
length of the ship. Unlike the rest of the armament, the carronades could be
trained on a much wider arc.
HMS
Victory : Loss of the 4th Victory
: Profile of H.M.S.
Victory :
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