Firearms in a Fantasy World

Translator: Cinder Translations

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Paul brought 12 naval cannons this time, including 2 12-pounders, 6 6-pounders, and 4 swivel guns. Combined with the 2 6-pounders and 4 swivel guns previously used for training, the navy now possessed 18 cannons.

Swivel guns are small-caliber cannons mounted on swiveling supports, capable of 360-degree rotation, used for firing grapeshot and small projectiles. They are lightweight and flexible, designed to support boarding actions and cover blind spots of broadside cannons.

During the construction of the Hope, gun ports for cannon placement were reserved on both sides of the upper deck. Due to it being the first build, the exact number of cannons that could be fitted was unclear, with only 8 gun ports opened, 4 on each side.

Upon returning from the trial sail, Austin directed the sailors to receive the new cannons brought by Paul. Four 6-pounders were immediately installed on the ship, accompanied by a crate of cannonballs and several barrels of gunpowder.

Installing ship cannons was no simple task; with limited space onboard, a proper recoil mechanism using ropes and pulleys had to be constructed. The navy experimented extensively on land before devising a feasible solution.