Why the Armada couldn't shoot straight

[Ithoriel]

Interesting (well interesting to me at least!) little piece about a marine archaeologist who among other things suggests the Armada was issued with shoddy guns!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26545418

[Hertsblue]

Very interesting, especially the bit about the Spanish guns. I knew the Spanish had difficulty reloading their guns because they had no mechanism for running them in and out, but if the guns themselves were so badly made one wonders if they hit anything at all.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Thanks for that.

ianS

[Techno]

What sort of range did these have ?
Or was the tactic to get as close as possible , and blast away at point blank range ?
Cheers - Phil

[Ithoriel]

Spanish tactics seem to have been to close with the enemy, fire a broadside and then board, relying on their skill and reputation for infantry combat.

The English, not having implemented the 1557 EU directive on Naval Warfare thanks to their 1587 "King of Spain's Beard" opt-out clause, used mostly smaller, lighter, faster and handier ships than the Spanish and unsportingly opened the range so as not to be boarded.

As a result the game went into extra time and the English brought on Fireships from the subs bench.

While the ref wasn't looking the Spanish were fouled most cruelly by Weather.

Final score England 66 - Spain 8*

*Technically an own goal as the English set fire to them

[FierceKitty]

I understand that the Brits tried to design long culverins to be effective ship-smashers at long range, and wasted a lot of time with ineffectual distant shooing before discovering that the same guns had the unexpected side-effect of penetrating very effectively at close range. A bit like finding that 88m anti-aircraft guns were excellent anti-tank weapons, or that you could melt down centurions to make Mexicans.

[Ithoriel]

My understanding, possibly entirely flawed, was that the English stood off to avoid being boarded until Drake plundered the Rosario and discovered how difficult it was for the Spaniards to reload due to gun design and the clutter of supplies on deck. So, at Gravelines, they changed to closing to the point where the Spaniards were tempted into ineffectual long range fire, rapidly closed the range, thereby luring many of the gunners into the ratlines ready for boarding, and then pounded the Spanish ships at close range before sheering off just as the Spaniard reloaded. Rinse, repeat, profit!

[FierceKitty]

The stories are not mutually exclusive.

[Techno]

Ta chaps.

Cheers - Phil.

[fsn]

... that you could melt down centurions to make Mexicans.

What? No! No! No! 

[marie]

too much wine....and bad sailors

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

As to range question - the shot would carry for roughly three miles - it's why territorial waters were set at that by Henry 8th.

IanS

[Techno]

Stroll on !........Must have been a particularly lucky (brilliant ?) shot to hit anything at that range, with the ship moving up and down on the swell !
Cheers - Phil

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Phil - I didn't say hit any thing - I said carry that far. 300m for the English Culverin would be good, and at that range it would be pushed to penetrate the Spanish hulls.

IanS

[Techno]

That's what I'd assumed Ian. 

Did the gunners ever try and hit anything at long range, or would that have been considered to be a waste of shot and powder ?
Cheers - Phil