Ricocheting cannon Balls!!!

[Powder keg]

Here is an interesting paragraph from this website. http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/info.htm Just thought some might like to try :twisted:  But please be safe.

An 18 pdr long gun with a charge of 5lb of powder was capable of penetrating nearly 2 feet six inches into oak at a range of 400 yds. and over 1 foot at 1000 yds.

By ricochet firing ranges could be increased considerably :- At 1deg elevation the 800 yds for a 32lb long gun could be increased to 2900 yds after 15 grazes. Contemporary notes add:- Ricochet firing requires a perfectly smooth sea. The closer the gun is placed to the water, the farther it ranges the shot. It might be advisable to heel the ship over by running in the opposite guns. Ricochet firing is not used for shells because the fuzes are always extinguished when so used.


Imagin 15 skips! I thought I was doing good when I got 4 or 5 with a good stone :grin:

[Artilleryman]

I believe Matt Switlik put something in his book The Complete Cannoneer about how far a projectile will go.  In it he cautioned that if the projectile ricochet that you could get a longer range than you might have intended.  I believe he referenced a time when a crew was shooting at a target on a lake and the projectile was seen going well beyond the lake itself.  On land if the ground is right ricochet firing was ideal against infantry columns.  The idea at sea was that ricochet firing (if it was smooth enough) would make it easier to hit the hull of the enemy ship..

[Cat Whisperer]

"Skipping" a 105 or 155mm howizter shell is one of the topics taught at the Comanchee County Cannon Cocker College (the U.S. Field Artillary School at Ft. Sill, OK).

In order to get an air burst (good against troops) when all you have is a delay (0.1 seconds) fuse, you can shoot at 'low angle' hitting an open flat area of earth, skipping the round into the air 'most' of the time - getting an air burst.  I've never seen it done, just heard about it in class.

[Santa Dave]

One of the Great civil war battles (I think it was Shiloh) the attending ship found a way to bounce balls up a side creek into the enemy ranks.
.Wish I could remember more! I will look.
Dave

[Santa Dave]

I have been digging and so far all Can Find is at Manassas (BULL RUN) The confederate gunners bounced balls off a hill to hit the enemy who was too high for their cannon.
I Will continue to look>
Dave