Some of my Swedish defence ministry friends (amongst others) having fun :)
Replica Vasa Cannon Fired
Some of my Swedish defence ministry friends (amongst others) having fun :)
So, what 'size' cannon? Was this just tested recently (YouTube posting was on the 22nd of October). The volume of noise is amazing. Makes you wonder how many sailors eventually lost their hearing? Thanks!
I can't remember the size of the weapon but this is a current trials programme. They were after some technical info from us only a few weeks aho
If one cannon makes that much smoke, think how much a full broadside would have produced.
That is impressive. Helps you understand a bit more what life aboard ship must have been like.
Thanks for sharing, David.
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ― Plato
Here's a follow up YouTube video from David's friends. This includes the damage to the replica Vasa hull and the resulting splinter effect.
some kind of spall liner would appear to be in order :)
I read on a TMP thread that it was a 24 pounder.Originally Posted by Nightmoss
Oh my god, look at these splinters! It's no wonder, that so many people dies in cause of infections.
In fact there where not many save places in those battles.
But think about the Vasa, her cannons didn't shot anyone before it sunk.
Canvas sheets?
Would you see the Terminal Cheapasses of the Admiralties of the time (regardless of nation, at that point they were all pretty much the same in the Spend Lives Rather Than Treasure Department if my read is correct) springing for that expense, when their standard approach to even mere medals and awards was "wait 'til almost everyone in the battle's DEAD then only award to LIVING claimants"?
Cotton wadding held in place by canvas sheets might have worked. Rolled up hammocks seemed to have some benefit otherwise they wouldnt have used them above decks I assume. Then again, it may have been just to lend encouragement to the poor sods being shot at.
The deadly effects of flying wood splinters is well documented.
So keep close to the ships hulk walls.
Only a direct hit can finish your naval career.
(Comte de Brueys imagines L'Orient firing a first broadside ...)
If a secondary use for the sheets could be found -- for ex.: Making clothing, or spare hammocks, or replacing waterlogged life-preservers, or....
The best way to get stuff past Congenital Cheapasses is to figure out *every* possible way it can be used (this is where "Carl" comes in handy... >:) ), then present it to the beancounters.
"Life Preservers"? At a time when few knew how to swim and they'd BARELY evolved past the theory of "anyone who doesn't sink like a rock uses Black Magic"? LOL
Well, that was what rolled-up hammocks were used for -- something floating which a sailor could hang on to. ("Of course -- just what I need... to float around the North Atlantic for several days clinging to a pillow full of Beer Farts!" [G. Carlin])
Do remember, this was also a time when "Triage" meant "Throw The Wounded To The Sharks"...
Can you imagine the smoke from a broadside never mind the noise if that was just one gun firing!
True -- and why the poor bastards who invented "The _Birkinhead_ Drill" were *praying* they drowned....
Still, one of the saving-graces of AoS is: Once you're over the horizon, the Admiralty can GFI.
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