Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons, many authorities mention the fact that the French carronade was inferior to that of the British. I came across this snippet in my search for the truth about close action encounters.
The Obusier de vaisseau was a large calibre but light piece of naval artillery mounted on French warships of the Age of Sail. Designed to fire explosive shells at a low velocity, they were an answer to the carronade in the close combat and anti-personnel role. However, their intended ammunition proved too dangerous for the crew, and the French navy phased them out at the beginning of the Empire in favour of the carronade.
Accounts by British warships of the armament of captured French ships tend to describe them as carronades. However, when the description includes the remark that the weapon was brass, this suggests that it was an obusier.
It seems that the French did not adopt the Carronade proper until 1803 and thus in games set before that date only the British should be able to use the Carronade option as set out in the rules.
Rob.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks