Carronade Frigate (ETW Unit)

Carronade Frigate (ETW Unit)
Class	6th Rate
Unit Size
Weaponry	24 guns
Morale
Melee Attack
Ranged Attack
Defence
Charge Bonus
Accuracy
Range
Ammunition
Region	Global
Recruitment Cost	1170
Upkeep Cost	290
Turns to Build
Unit Limit
Building Requirements
Technology Requirements
Attributes

Carronade frigates are single-deck vessels, with extremely impressive short-range firepower.

Overview

Normally frigates would be armed with long guns, probably no larger than 12-pounders. A few short-barrelled 64-pounder carronades might be aboard to give a close-in broadside more weight of shot. A carronade frigate goes one better, and carries nothing but carronades – short guns that are half the weight of the equivalent conventional cannon. While the weight of a broadside is truly awesome, the frigate has to get in close in order to blow an enemy to smithereens thanks to the carronades’ limited range. A clever enemy will stay out of range of the carronades’ horrendous power and take long range pot shots.

Historically, only the Royal Navy experimented with an all-carronade armament aboard HMS Glatton (in service from 1795). Glatton carried 28 64-pounder and 28 32-pounder carronades, giving a weight of fire that was more than 17% greater than HMS Victory could deliver at the Battle of Trafalgar! This massive firepower allowed her, on one occasion, to chase all eight vessels in a French squadron back into port. Oddly enough, the next two vessels to carry the name “Glatton” in RN service were also massively over-armed.

Tactics

Carronade Frigates fill an interesting niche in a navy. They lack the range of other ships of the line; however, they are more maneuvarable than the larger ships and still able to carry devastating, if short ranged, firepower. Carronades are best used if they can sneak up to the stern or bow of the ship, so that they can deploy their heavy, close-range firepower without being punished too harshly for it.