The Glorious First of June

[cannonmn]

 A snippet of history, found on the web.  I'd say those ships were at pretty close range.

"Brunswick" sustained a most tremendous conflict, being singly engaged for a considerable time with three seventy-fours. One of these "Le Vengeur" she sent to the bottom. At one stage of the battle another of the seventy-fours seeing that "Brunswick" was much weakened by her exertions, determined to board and manned her yards and shrouds with a view to running alongside and flinging in all her crew at once. "Brunswick" with great intrepidity and coolness reserved a whole broadside and waited her approach; then in one discharge the "Brunswick" dismasted her and "scattered her crew like so many mice on the ocean". So closely at times was the "Brunswick" engaged that she was unable to haul up her lower-deck port lids and was obliged to fire through them.

[dan610324]

he he he , that would mean 2 - 3 feet apart , thats close

[Evil Dog]

Now that's close !!!  Would be pretty hard to miss at that range.

[seacoastartillery]

     Pieces of those 'port lids' would make deadly splinters that would put those created by the Myth-Busters to shame!  At that range, a 32 Pdr. shot could penetrate the Vengeur du Peuple's heavy side timbers AND the heavy 'Knees' inside that support the upper gun decks.  Think about THOSE chunks of wood flying around!

Good find, cannonmn.

Mike and Tracy

[Sunrise]

That's one of the reasons for incorporating tumblehome into the design of a sailing ship ...

[KABAR2]

     Pieces of those 'port lids' would make deadly splinters

Not to mention the Iron bits of hinges torn loose by the shot, the carnage between decks must have been gruesome.

I doubt that even a seasoned old salt would not be shaken by it's sight. 

[BoomLover]

Do ye have a link to that bit "o" hist'ry, Mate? Quite a read, I'd be yearn'n to read some more of it, if ye please! BoomLover

[cannonmn]

BoomJ, there wasn't much more on that particular page but I can certainly find more.

Here's that page:

http://www.wfrmuseum.org.uk/1st_june.htm


Here's an actual excerpt from a ship's log:

http://www.hillsdalesites.org/personal/hstewart/war/Navy3/(1794-06-01)%20Glorious%20First%20of%20June%20(Tremendous).pdf

Here's another short story:

http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/1661to1966/gloriousfirst/gloriousfirst.html

[cannonmn]

dba

[Cannoneer]

For a price, you too, can now own a piece of this glorious sea war. Claims have been made that there is an eyeless, and mute eyewitness to the battle that not only survives, but is now being offered for auction. The information that is indelibly inscribed on the muzzle face of this bronze naval weapon, goes a long way in telling the tale of its history.







"33-1/4 in. barrel, 1-3/4 in. bore, iron carriage, 14 x 21 in., tip of barrel marked "Taken by Earl Howe, 1 June 1794"; see attached information. Excellent condition, carriage with scattered rust, barrel with old unpolished surface, several small stains and surface flaws. Provenance: Estate of the Late Jackson Rolland, Edinburgh, Scotland. The Battle of the First of June was the first great naval engagement of the French Revolutionary Wars, fought between the French and the British in the Atlantic Ocean about 430 miles (690 km.) west of the Breton Island of Ouessant (Ushant). The battle arose out of an attempt by the British fleet under Earl Howe to intercept a grain convoy from the United States that was being escorted into Brest, France, by a fleet under Louis Villaret de Joyeuse."

[cannonmn]

"Taken by Earl Howe..."

Earl took it along on a picnic, perhaps, it would fit nicely in his carriage, being not much larger than a lunch basket.

[Cannoneer]

Just think, the Earl may have used this smallish trophy gun as his own personal yacht cannon as he sailed up, and down the Thames enjoying his golden years.