Story Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 It may appear primitive, but this cannon marks the point when Britannia began to rule the waves. Britain's 'first weapon of mass destruction' was discovered on a warship that sank in the Channel in 1592. It could fire a cannonball at close to the speed of sound - fast enough to punch through the solid oak planks of an enemy galleon 100 yards away. The extraordinary power of the 7ft 'Elizabethan supergun' was revealed when a replica was test-fired in a disused quarry. Mensun Bound, a marine archaeologist at Oxford University, said: 'No gun of this type and period had ever been tested before and the results were surprising. 'Muzzle velocities were achieved that were almost the speed of sound and the shot that was fired was able to punch through 4in of oak with ease. Complete article at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11...id-oak.html??97 Dances for nickels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster James Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Great find! (tosses some nickels) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Story Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 A well-versed friend of mine pointed out the following: The problem here though is that they're using modern black powder, produced with modern production processes to fire their shot. Pre industrial revolution production methods ended up with different strengths of powder, and my copy of the 1770 Encyclopedia Brittanica has a whole section on how to test the strength of gunpowder. Plus, contractors probably cut the stuff with whatever to increase their profit! Dances for nickels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quartermaster James Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 There might not be as much difference as we moderns would like to think. Even today, you can make better BP at home than is commercially available. Read this informative black powder site thoroughly for more information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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