Ammo stockpiles

[swaghauler]

Originally Posted by aspqrz

I was referring to the OP who opined that the larger craft (he mentioned ones up to 150') could mount weaponry up to a couple of tons.

Sure, if it's all in the form of field or pintle mount 20mms ... heck, probably even 25mms ... but no way will they mount a single weapon of that weight (or even two of half that weight) without the problem noted ... unless someone knows something neither of us seem to?

(Aside: Maybe they could mount Harpoon or similar Missile Boxes ... not much recoil on them, presumable ... as long as there's some way of minimising any effect from the rocket exhaust. But at the point where you're desperate enough to be using these sorts of civvie craft, what's the chance of any Harpoons being still around ... given that, even during the Cold War, my understanding is that there were never enough missiles for each available launcher/platform to carry one apiece at the same time, never mind reloads).

Phil

Since I am BOTH the "original poster" AND the person who replied the second time, I'll answer again, especially since I'm the owner of a sailboat and know EXACTLY what I was talking about in my earlier post.

We were discussing arming a SAILING ship to either protect one's self from pirates or for war using available equipment. The weight requirements were for mounting "old school" armaments that could be fabricated or commandeered for a sailboat, NOT a freighter or tramp steamer (which seems to be what you were referring to).
A centerline gun mount WILL NOT WORK on a modern sailboat. This is because the Bermuda Rig (with its angled head sail and angled main sails which will often overlap) REQUIRES a certain size of head sail (depending on wind conditions) in order to "balance the helm" (maintain control and enhance handling) at speed. ANY centerline gun mount would interfere with the movement of the head sail and induce "weather helm" during maneuvering.

The weight limits I posted were for "old school" black powder cannons and newer reproductions that could be lifted from museums or collectors and mounted on the decks EXACTLY like they were in the age of sail...on free rolling carriages that were restrained by rope "recoil arrest" & "run out" assemblies. Because these guns can "roll back" upon recoil, they WOULD NOT transfer that recoil into the deck plates (as demonstrated by the very small ships mounting such guns during the Age of Sail). Let's take the Brigg Niagara (which WallShadow and I were discussing at the time) as a "for instance..."
She is 110 feet long and mounts 18 32 pounder Carronades (at 900kg each) and 2 12 pounders (at 1500kg each) with NO DIFFICULTY in handling recoil. The ship is no more heavily built than say, PlayStation II (a 125ft modern Catamaran) in its deck area. PlayStation II would have NO DIFFICULTY mounting Niagara's weapons fit on her decks.

The only thing I WOULD do is mount the recoil ropes to the cleats or stay mounts (NOT THE RAILINGS) to prevent a cannon from crossing the deck and heading for "Davey Jone's Locker" through the opposite side railing during firing. Another thing you might want to do to a modern sailboat is to glue some plywood to the deck to prevent gouging up the fiberglass too much.
Otherwise, there is no reason a modern sailboat couldn't mount old school cannon on deck.

Other "real world" examples of "recreational vessels" pressed into service exist in our world right now. Just look at Iran's speedboats in The Gulf. They are "off the rack" Sea Rays complete with THE SAME commercial Raytheon radar/navigation suite that Sea Ray offers to boaters all around the world upgunned with remote fired RPGs (in racks of 8), 2 torpedo tubes, or (more recently) quad wire guided AT missile launchers on the foredeck and HMGs or Autocannon in a rear AA mount. They even have Sea Ray's commercial bow mounted spotlight. These boats are functionally IDENTICAL, except for the weapons of course, to the same boats rich people use in the Med, Bahamas, or Florida. These boats were so effective at causing harm to shipping during the Iran-Iraq war that the US Navy began escorting merchant ships through the Straits of Hormuz. They work.

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by swaghauler

Since I am BOTH the "original poster" AND the person who replied the second time, I'll answer again, especially since I'm the owner of a sailboat and know EXACTLY what I was talking about in my earlier post.

We were discussing arming a SAILING ship to either protect one's self from pirates or for war using available equipment. The weight requirements were for mounting "old school" armaments that could be fabricated or commandeered for a sailboat, NOT a freighter or tramp steamer (which seems to be what you were referring to).
A centerline gun mount WILL NOT WORK on a modern sailboat. This is because the Bermuda Rig (with its angled head sail and angled main sails which will often overlap) REQUIRES a certain size of head sail (depending on wind conditions) in order to "balance the helm" (maintain control and enhance handling) at speed. ANY centerline gun mount would interfere with the movement of the head sail and induce "weather helm" during maneuvering.

The weight limits I posted were for "old school" black powder cannons and newer reproductions that could be lifted from museums or collectors and mounted on the decks EXACTLY like they were in the age of sail...on free rolling carriages that were restrained by rope "recoil arrest" & "run out" assemblies. Because these guns can "roll back" upon recoil, they WOULD NOT transfer that recoil into the deck plates (as demonstrated by the very small ships mounting such guns during the Age of Sail). Let's take the Brigg Niagara (which WallShadow and I were discussing at the time) as a "for instance..."
She is 110 feet long and mounts 18 32 pounder Carronades (at 900kg each) and 2 12 pounders (at 1500kg each) with NO DIFFICULTY in handling recoil. The ship is no more heavily built than say, PlayStation II (a 125ft modern Catamaran) in its deck area. PlayStation II would have NO DIFFICULTY mounting Niagara's weapons fit on her decks.

The only thing I WOULD do is mount the recoil ropes to the cleats or stay mounts (NOT THE RAILINGS) to prevent a cannon from crossing the deck and heading for "Davey Jone's Locker" through the opposite side railing during firing. Another thing you might want to do to a modern sailboat is to glue some plywood to the deck to prevent gouging up the fiberglass too much.
Otherwise, there is no reason a modern sailboat couldn't mount old school cannon on deck.

Other "real world" examples of "recreational vessels" pressed into service exist in our world right now. Just look at Iran's speedboats in The Gulf. They are "off the rack" Sea Rays complete with THE SAME commercial Raytheon radar/navigation suite that Sea Ray offers to boaters all around the world upgunned with remote fired RPGs (in racks of 8), 2 torpedo tubes, or (more recently) quad wire guided AT missile launchers on the foredeck and HMGs or Autocannon in a rear AA mount. They even have Sea Ray's commercial bow mounted spotlight. These boats are functionally IDENTICAL, except for the weapons of course, to the same boats rich people use in the Med, Bahamas, or Florida. These boats were so effective at causing harm to shipping during the Iran-Iraq war that the US Navy began escorting merchant ships through the Straits of Hormuz. They work.

Need to note this for "Gateway".

[unkated]

Originally Posted by swaghauler

The weight limits I posted were for "old school" black powder cannons and newer reproductions that could be lifted from museums or collectors and mounted on the decks EXACTLY like they were in the age of sail...on free rolling carriages that were restrained by rope "recoil arrest" & "run out" assemblies. Because these guns can "roll back" upon recoil, they WOULD NOT transfer that recoil into the deck plates (as demonstrated by the very small ships mounting such guns during the Age of Sail). Let's take the Brigg Niagara (which WallShadow and I were discussing at the time) as a "for instance..."

She is 110 feet long and mounts 18 32 pounder Carronades (at 900kg each) and 2 12 pounders (at 1500kg each) with NO DIFFICULTY in handling recoil.

The ship is no more heavily built than say, PlayStation II (a 125ft modern Catamaran) in its deck area. PlayStation II would have NO DIFFICULTY mounting Niagara's weapons fit on her decks.

Incorrect. Age of Sail warships (actually, until the mid 1840s any ship, as most ships heading for international waters were built to be equipped with some armament) were designed to be equipped decks were reinforced with scantlings and knees preciesly to support the down thrust from cannon recoil - several hundred pounds moving rapidly and absolutley some of it is pushing down.

Modern sailing vessels, especially pleasure craft are absolutely NOT made to support that kind of peak pressure on a deck. Neither are their sides built with the kind (and frequency) of ribs for breach lines to anchor from; something like a 4-lbr cannon (much less a 6, 12 or 24-lbr) would tear the cleats or eyes out of the vessel when fired.


Uncle Ted

[swaghauler]

Originally Posted by unkated

Incorrect. Age of Sail warships (actually, until the mid 1840s any ship, as most ships heading for international waters were built to be equipped with some armament) were designed to be equipped decks were reinforced with scantlings and knees preciesly to support the down thrust from cannon recoil - several hundred pounds moving rapidly and absolutley some of it is pushing down.

Modern sailing vessels, especially pleasure craft are absolutely NOT made to support that kind of peak pressure on a deck. Neither are their sides built with the kind (and frequency) of ribs for breach lines to anchor from; something like a 4-lbr cannon (much less a 6, 12 or 24-lbr) would tear the cleats or eyes out of the vessel when fired.


Uncle Ted

If you were talking about something similar to my sailboat, I would most definitely agree. We are talking about MUCH larger sailboats built with true keels and usually carbon fiber, NOT fiberglass. Some may even have aluminum or steel hulls. I think you are underestimating the build quality of your typical sailing Megayacht. Stay-Plates often go straight down to the keel because it requires a sizable stay to hold in check a sail of 50 meters by 35 meters in a fresh gale. For the record, The Brigg Niagara had 1" pine decks and her ribs were set on 36" centers. Hardly "overbuilt" (because the crew had to portage her), yet she carried 18 32lb Carronades and 2 12lb Guns. Only her keel, ribs, and masts were oak.

I would agree that modern 21st Century boats WOULD have a problem because they are almost exclusively cored fiberglass boats now. A cored fiberglass boat has two layers of fiberglass with a layer of polystyrene foam between them for increased buoyancy. This type of hull would most definitely crack from the firing of a black powder cannon. These hulls only came into existence for larger boats during the first years of the 21st Century. Most Twilight Era boats would still be Plywood and fiberglass resin build.

We are also not talking about Guns/Cannon. We are talking about Carronades which are shorter and lighter than guns. The 10 6lb Carronades which were mounted on Constitution's spar deck only weighed 170kg EACH with attendant carriage. I have seen these guns mounted on modern (for the 90's) 60 foot sailboats made of 4-ply Marine plywood coated with fiberglass in the Carribean as curios and "signaling guns. A few of these Carronades have even used by modern boats in mock battles down there. No carronade ever crashed through a deck during such an event.

So success would depend on the boat AND the armament in question. I suspect that the issue you brought up is precisely the reason that Carronades outnumber Cannon 3 to 1 in the US and Carribean. They were lighter, cheaper, and easier to cast.

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by swaghauler

If you were talking about something similar to my sailboat, I would most definitely agree. We are talking about MUCH larger sailboats built with true keels and usually carbon fiber, NOT fiberglass. Some may even have aluminum or steel hulls. I think you are underestimating the build quality of your typical sailing Megayacht. Stay-Plates often go straight down to the keel because it requires a sizable stay to hold in check a sail of 50 meters by 35 meters in a fresh gale. For the record, The Brigg Niagara had 1" pine decks and her ribs were set on 36" centers. Hardly "overbuilt" (because the crew had to portage her), yet she carried 18 32lb Carronades and 2 12lb Guns. Only her keel, ribs, and masts were oak.

I would agree that modern 21st Century boats WOULD have a problem because they are almost exclusively cored fiberglass boats now. A cored fiberglass boat has two layers of fiberglass with a layer of polystyrene foam between them for increased buoyancy. This type of hull would most definitely crack from the firing of a black powder cannon. These hulls only came into existence for larger boats during the first years of the 21st Century. Most Twilight Era boats would still be Plywood and fiberglass resin build.

We are also not talking about Guns/Cannon. We are talking about Carronades which are shorter and lighter than guns. The 10 6lb Carronades which were mounted on Constitution's spar deck only weighed 170kg EACH with attendant carriage. I have seen these guns mounted on modern (for the 90's) 60 foot sailboats made of 4-ply Marine plywood coated with fiberglass in the Carribean as curios and "signaling guns. A few of these Carronades have even used by modern boats in mock battles down there. No carronade ever crashed through a deck during such an event.

So success would depend on the boat AND the armament in question. I suspect that the issue you brought up is precisely the reason that Carronades outnumber Cannon 3 to 1 in the US and Carribean. They were lighter, cheaper, and easier to cast.

The Grenada module stated they built the schooners in the traditional way, wouldn't that mean suitable for weapons?

[swaghauler]

Originally Posted by .45cultist

The Grenada module stated they built the schooners in the traditional way, wouldn't that mean suitable for weapons?

This would depend on the basic construction of that vessel. As Unkated has already brought up, construction varies greatly. If it was a conventional "civil" construction, it would have oak framing and pine cladding and decks. Military vessels would be all hard wood construction (oak in the US). I would look up the specs of a real world schooner and apply those traits to the game schooner.
The real world schooner should list an "acceptable deck loading" (weight the deck can hold). For instance, the deck loading for my sailboat is 100 kilograms.