Carronades and cannons were both vital artillery pieces in the 18th century, but they were designed for different purposes, especially when it came to range and impact.
Carronades were direct-fire, short-barrelled guns known for their devastating power at close range. Due to their shorter barrels and reduced gunpowder charges, carronades had a significantly shorter range. However, they were also much lighter than cannons firing the same-sized shot, making them easier to mount on smaller vessels or in upper decks.
In contrast, long guns or cannons were traditional, full-length artillery pieces capable of firing solid shot over distances of 1,000 yards or more. Their extended range made them suitable for line-of-battle engagements, where ships exchanged broadsides from a distance. However, their considerable weight and size meant that only larger ships could carry them in significant numbers.
The Naval Gunner, a period manual containing accurate methods of disparting ordnance and official gunnery tables, offers clear evidence of these differences:
Carronades – Dimensions and Ranges
Nature (Pounders)
Diameter of Bore (inches)
Length in Calibres
Weight of Metal (cwt)
Weight of Shot (lbs)
Weight of Powder (lbs)
68
8.05
6.7
30
68
5.66
42
6.84
6.5
22
42
3.5
32
6.13
7.7
17
32
2.67
24
5.68
6.9
15
24
2
18
4.62
6.2
13
18
1.5
12
4.52
5.6
10
12
1
Charge (lbs)
68 Prs (Yards)
42 Prs (Yards)
32 Prs (Yards)
24 Prs (Yards)
18 Prs (Yards)
12 Prs (Yards)
1
450
400
330
270
230
180
2
800
800
800
780
730
600
3
980
900
870
800
770
700
4
1100
1020
980
900
870
810
5
1280
1170
1087
1050
1000
870
Iron Ordnance on Sea Service Carriages
Elevation (Degrees)
24-Pdr, 6 ft – 1st Graze
24-Pdr, 6 ft – Extreme Range
18-Pdr, 9 ft – 1st Graze
18-Pdr, 9 ft – Extreme Range
18-Pdr, 8 ft – 1st Graze
18-Pdr, 8 ft – Extreme Range
P
250
5900
250
5900
250
4700
1°
408
8200
408
8200
406
7200
2°
564
10200
564
10200
516
8833
3°
720
11800
720
11800
646
10416
4°
864
13383
864
13383
786
11900
5°
1014
15000
1014
15000
933
13500
6°
1164
16600
1164
16600
1068
14938
7°
1314
18200
1314
18200
1216
16300
8°
1464
19800
1464
19800
1352
17838
9°
1614
21333
1614
21333
1500
19305
10°
1764
22900
1764
22900
1636
20700
11°
1914
24500
1914
24500
1784
22138
12°
2064
26066
2064
26066
1920
23605
13°
2214
27600
2214
27600
2068
25000
14°
2364
29200
2364
29200
2204
26416
15°
2514
30800
2514
30800
2352
27850
Conclusion
This comparison illustrates the stark differences in performance between carronades and cannons. Carronades were ideal for close-range action, where quick and powerful broadsides could devastate enemy decks and hulls. Cannons, on the other hand, were necessary for long-range duels, fleet actions, and engagements requiring sustained fire over thousands of yards.
Carronades were direct-fire, short-barrelled guns known for their devastating power at close range. Due to their shorter barrels and reduced gunpowder charges, carronades had a significantly shorter range. However, they were also much lighter than cannons firing the same-sized shot, making them easier to mount on smaller vessels or in upper decks.
In contrast, long guns or cannons were traditional, full-length artillery pieces capable of firing solid shot over distances of 1,000 yards or more. Their extended range made them suitable for line-of-battle engagements, where ships exchanged broadsides from a distance. However, their considerable weight and size meant that only larger ships could carry them in significant numbers.
The Naval Gunner, a period manual containing accurate methods of disparting ordnance and official gunnery tables, offers clear evidence of these differences:
Carronades – Dimensions and Ranges
Nature (Pounders)
Diameter of Bore (inches)
Length in Calibres
Weight of Metal (cwt)
Weight of Shot (lbs)
Weight of Powder (lbs)
68
8.05
6.7
30
68
5.66
42
6.84
6.5
22
42
3.5
32
6.13
7.7
17
32
2.67
24
5.68
6.9
15
24
2
18
4.62
6.2
13
18
1.5
12
4.52
5.6
10
12
1
Charge (lbs)
68 Prs (Yards)
42 Prs (Yards)
32 Prs (Yards)
24 Prs (Yards)
18 Prs (Yards)
12 Prs (Yards)
1
450
400
330
270
230
180
2
800
800
800
780
730
600
3
980
900
870
800
770
700
4
1100
1020
980
900
870
810
5
1280
1170
1087
1050
1000
870
Iron Ordnance on Sea Service Carriages
Elevation (Degrees)
24-Pdr, 6 ft – 1st Graze
24-Pdr, 6 ft – Extreme Range
18-Pdr, 9 ft – 1st Graze
18-Pdr, 9 ft – Extreme Range
18-Pdr, 8 ft – 1st Graze
18-Pdr, 8 ft – Extreme Range
P
250
5900
250
5900
250
4700
1°
408
8200
408
8200
406
7200
2°
564
10200
564
10200
516
8833
3°
720
11800
720
11800
646
10416
4°
864
13383
864
13383
786
11900
5°
1014
15000
1014
15000
933
13500
6°
1164
16600
1164
16600
1068
14938
7°
1314
18200
1314
18200
1216
16300
8°
1464
19800
1464
19800
1352
17838
9°
1614
21333
1614
21333
1500
19305
10°
1764
22900
1764
22900
1636
20700
11°
1914
24500
1914
24500
1784
22138
12°
2064
26066
2064
26066
1920
23605
13°
2214
27600
2214
27600
2068
25000
14°
2364
29200
2364
29200
2204
26416
15°
2514
30800
2514
30800
2352
27850
Conclusion
This comparison illustrates the stark differences in performance between carronades and cannons. Carronades were ideal for close-range action, where quick and powerful broadsides could devastate enemy decks and hulls. Cannons, on the other hand, were necessary for long-range duels, fleet actions, and engagements requiring sustained fire over thousands of yards.