The Operation, Firing and Reloading of Cannons

[tmj]

Does anyone know of any video links/re-enactments that reveal how 18th century shipboard cannons would have been loaded, fired, re-loaded and fired again? I'd like to see all the actions, motions, and needful operations being performed, in real time, using such cannons.    

[el cid]

 

[popeye2sea]

Unfortunately, the gun drill, as performed by the USS Constitution crew, is not very accurately portrayed.

 

Regards,

[dafi]

The only gun drill on film I know that is quite true is on Master and Commander , especially on the bonus disc. All other ones are not very trustable, the idle members just standing around "bored", also having all the space in the world, as the neighbor crews are missing ...

 

I tried some time ago to give a better impressen onto this topic here:

 

XXXDAn

[Louie da fly]

Dafi, that's amazing! Thanks for showing this - really creates the scene.

[Roger Pellett]

The Erie Maritime Museum that operates the sailing vessel Niagara has used her extensively for what they call “experimental archeology.”  This includes firing cannons at sample sections of hull structure to access damage.  She is, however, armed mostly with carronades.  I don’t know if they have conducted any fully manned gun drills.  You might want to contact them.