Saphroneth
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2017
Something it's worth pointing out is the massive rate of fire discrepancy between a monitor and a frigate. In a hypothetical match between a Passaic and a "51" then the rate of fire of the Passaic's guns is going to be about one shot every 7-10 minutes per gun (of which the 15" isn't aimed, but there you go). So about one ball every five minutes.
The 51, on the other hand, is going to be using... let's say it's HMS Liffey.
The main deck has 30 8" shell guns (so 15 per side)
The upper deck has 20 32-pounder guns (so 10 per side)
And the pivot is a 68 pounder capable of endangering the Passaic's armour in a single hit.
The 32 pounder guns have a ROF of ~2-3 shots per minute, so let's say 2; the 8" and 68 pounder guns have a ROF of at least one shot per minute.
So in the time the Passaic fires two balls the Liffey will reply with 200 32-pounder shots, 150 8" shells and 10 68-pounder shots.
This ROF disparity also applies to ironclads. A Passaic versus the Terror (or another Crimean ironclad) would be facing 8-10 68 pounder balls per minute, so a rate of fire 40-50 times that of the Passaic.
The 51, on the other hand, is going to be using... let's say it's HMS Liffey.
The main deck has 30 8" shell guns (so 15 per side)
The upper deck has 20 32-pounder guns (so 10 per side)
And the pivot is a 68 pounder capable of endangering the Passaic's armour in a single hit.
The 32 pounder guns have a ROF of ~2-3 shots per minute, so let's say 2; the 8" and 68 pounder guns have a ROF of at least one shot per minute.
So in the time the Passaic fires two balls the Liffey will reply with 200 32-pounder shots, 150 8" shells and 10 68-pounder shots.
This ROF disparity also applies to ironclads. A Passaic versus the Terror (or another Crimean ironclad) would be facing 8-10 68 pounder balls per minute, so a rate of fire 40-50 times that of the Passaic.