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[[File:Soleil-Royal mp3h9367.jpg|thumb|Bow of [[French ship Soleil-Royal (1670)|''Soleil-Royal'']]. The two upper openings on the wall of the [[forecastle]] allow firing guns on either sides of the [[bow (ship)|bow]].]] |
[[File:Soleil-Royal mp3h9367.jpg|thumb|Bow of [[French ship Soleil-Royal (1670)|''Soleil-Royal'']]. The two upper openings on the wall of the [[forecastle]] allow firing guns on either sides of the [[bow (ship)|bow]].]] |
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[[File:Veteran mg 8190c.jpeg|thumb|The ''[[French ship Vétéran (1803)|''Vétéran'']], chased by a British squadron, finds shelter in [[Concarneau]] harbour. The smoke cloud at her transom indicates that she is firing her stern chase gun.]] |
[[File:Veteran mg 8190c.jpeg|thumb|The ''[[French ship Vétéran (1803)|''Vétéran'']], chased by a British squadron, finds shelter in [[Concarneau]] harbour. The smoke cloud at her transom indicates that she is firing her stern chase gun.]] |
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A '''chase gun''', usually distinguished as '''bow chaser''' and '''stern chaser''' (or just '''chaser''' for short) was a [[cannon]] mounted in the [[bow (ship)|bow]] (aiming forward) or [[stern]] (aiming backward) of a [[sailing ship]]. |
A '''chase gun''', usually distinguished as '''bow chaser''' and '''stern chaser''' (or just '''chaser''' for short) was a [[cannon]] mounted in the [[bow (ship)|bow]] (aiming forward) or [[stern]] (aiming backward) of a [[sailing ship]]. |
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Bow chasers could be regular guns brought up from the gundeck and aimed through specially cut-out ports on either side of the [[bowsprit]], or dedicated weapons made with an unusually long bore and a relatively light ball, and mounted in the bow. Stern chasers could also be improvised, or left permanently in the cabins at the stern, covered up and used as part of the furniture. |
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In the [[Age of Sail]], shiphandling had been brought to a high art, and chases frequently lasted for hours or sometimes days, as each crew fine-tuned their [[sail]]s to take advantage of small variations in the wind. A single lucky shot could cut through a critical line, or cause a sail to split if the wind was strong, so if the ships were within range, the best gunners on each would use their chasers to make carefully aimed and timed shots at the other. |
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During [[World War II]], the [[Royal Navy]] fitted bow chasers, usually [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|QF 2-pdr pom-poms]], to many {{sclass2-|Hunt|destroyer|2}}s employed escorting east coast convoys, to provide a weapon capable of dealing with [[E-boat]] attacks.<ref>[[#Canney|Canney, 2001]] p.11</ref><ref>[http://www.dauntlessprivateers.org/ship_design.htm The Sacramento Historical Maritime Educational Organization, Inc.]</ref> |
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==Bibliography== |
==Bibliography== |
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Revision as of 19:35, 26 February 2014
A chase gun, usually distinguished as bow chaser and stern chaser (or just chaser for short) was a cannon mounted in the bow (aiming forward) or stern (aiming backward) of a sailing ship.
Bibliography
- Canney, Donald L. (1826). Sailing warships of the US Navy.
Chatham Publishing / Naval Institute Press. p. 224. ISBN 1-55750-990-5. Url
References
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chase guns.