Model of a carronade (early 19th century). The long gun was the main weapon of warships during Nelson's era and required a crew of up to eight men. By Nelson's time the shot size of the largest used on British ships had reduced to 32 pounds (14.6 kg), hence '32-pounder'. The carronade was a short-range gun, introduced in 1778. It was known in the Royal Navy as a 'smasher', was a quarter of the weight of a long-gun and could therefore be handled by fewer men. Carronades came in many sizes, those firing 12-pound shot (14.5 kg) being in common naval use while Nelson's 'Victory' had a few of the largest, firing 68-pound shot. The mortar was a short gun and was used for shore bombardment from bomb vessels from the 17th to the 19th centuries. It fired a hollow spherical shell or 'bomb' Original size: 105 mm x 182 mm x 102 mm
