Raking fire: Difference between revisions
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[[File:The East India Company's ship Bridgewater successfully defending her cargo from an attack by the American privateer Hampden on her way from St. Helena to England on 8th March 1779 2012 CSK 07856 0031 022624.jpg|thumb|British East Indiaman [[Bridgewater (1769 EIC ship)|''Bridgewater'']] raking the American privateer [[New Hampshire State Navy|''Hampden'']] on 8 March 1779]] | [[File:The East India Company's ship Bridgewater successfully defending her cargo from an attack by the American privateer Hampden on her way from St. Helena to England on 8th March 1779 2012 CSK 07856 0031 022624.jpg|thumb|British East Indiaman [[Bridgewater (1769 EIC ship)|''Bridgewater'']] raking the American privateer [[New Hampshire State Navy|''Hampden'']] on 8 March 1779]] | ||
In [[naval warfare]] during the [[Age of Sail]], '''raking fire''' was [[Naval artillery in the Age of Sail|cannon fire]] directed parallel to the long axis of an enemy [[ship]] from ahead (in front of the ship) or astern (behind the ship). Although each shot was directed against a smaller profile compared to firing at the target ship's [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]] and thus more likely to miss the target ship to one side or the other, an individual cannon shot that hit would pass through more of the ship, thereby increasing damage to the [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]], [[sail]]s, [[Naval artillery|cannon]] and [[Ship's company|crew]]. In addition, the targeted ship would have fewer (if any) guns able to return fire. | In [[naval warfare]] during the [[Age of Sail]], '''raking fire''' was [[Naval artillery in the Age of Sail|cannon fire]] directed parallel to the long axis of an enemy [[ship]] from ahead (in front of the ship) or astern (behind the ship). Although each shot was directed against a smaller profile compared to firing at the target ship's [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]] and thus more likely to miss the target ship to one side or the other, an individual cannon shot that hit would pass through more of the ship, thereby increasing damage to the [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]], [[sail]]s, [[Naval artillery|cannon]] and [[Ship's company|crew]]. In addition, the targeted ship would have fewer (if any) guns able to return fire. | ||
Historically, a [[stern]] rake tended to be more damaging than a [[Bow (watercraft)|bow]] rake because the shots were less likely to be deflected by the curved and strengthened bow,<ref>{{cite book |last= Wills|first= Sam|date= 2008|title=Fighting at Sea in the Eighteenth Century: The Art of Sailing Warfare |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=UW9kOqCgsIgC&q=raking+fire|location= Woodbridge UK|publisher= Boydell Press|page= 143|isbn= 978-1-84383-367-3|access-date= December 5, 2014}}</ref> and because disabling the exposed [[rudder]] at the stern would render the target unable to steer and thus manoeuvre. However, achieving a position to rake a single enemy ship was usually very difficult unless the opponent was unable to manoeuvre due to damage to its sails or rudder; it was easier if the enemy ship was required to maintain its position in a [[line of battle]]. | |||
In the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Glorious First of June]] (1 June 1794) battle, [[Admiral_(Royal_Navy)|Admiral]] [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe]] ordered his British fleet to [[Glorious_First_of_June#British_break_the_line|turn through the French line]] and rake the opposing ships. While only a small proportion of captains and ships achieved this, it was decisive enough to turn the battle. | The effectiveness of this tactic was demonstrated at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]]. Admiral [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Nelson]]'s [[HMS Victory|HMS ''Victory'']], leading the [[Weather gage|weather]] column of the British fleet, broke the French line just astern of the French flagship ''[[French ship Bucentaure (1803)|Bucentaure]]'', and just ahead of ''[[French ship Redoutable (1795)|Redoutable]]''. ''Victory'' raked the ''Bucentaure's'' less-protected stern, killing 197 and wounding a further 85, including the ''Bucentaure's'' captain, [[Jean-Jacques Magendie]]. Admiral [[Pierre-Charles Villeneuve]] survived, and although he was not captured for three hours, the raking put ''Bucentaure'' out of the fight. In the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Glorious First of June]] (1 June 1794) battle, [[Admiral_(Royal_Navy)|Admiral]] [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe]] ordered his British fleet to [[Glorious_First_of_June#British_break_the_line|turn through the French line]] and rake the opposing ships. While only a small proportion of captains and ships achieved this, it was decisive enough to turn the battle. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Latest revision as of 08:29, 22 June 2025
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In naval warfare during the Age of Sail, raking fire was cannon fire directed parallel to the long axis of an enemy ship from ahead (in front of the ship) or astern (behind the ship). Although each shot was directed against a smaller profile compared to firing at the target ship's broadside and thus more likely to miss the target ship to one side or the other, an individual cannon shot that hit would pass through more of the ship, thereby increasing damage to the hull, sails, cannon and crew. In addition, the targeted ship would have fewer (if any) guns able to return fire.
Historically, a stern rake tended to be more damaging than a bow rake because the shots were less likely to be deflected by the curved and strengthened bow,[1] and because disabling the exposed rudder at the stern would render the target unable to steer and thus manoeuvre. However, achieving a position to rake a single enemy ship was usually very difficult unless the opponent was unable to manoeuvre due to damage to its sails or rudder; it was easier if the enemy ship was required to maintain its position in a line of battle.
The effectiveness of this tactic was demonstrated at the Battle of Trafalgar. Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory, leading the weather column of the British fleet, broke the French line just astern of the French flagship Bucentaure, and just ahead of Redoutable. Victory raked the Bucentaure's less-protected stern, killing 197 and wounding a further 85, including the Bucentaure's captain, Jean-Jacques Magendie. Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve survived, and although he was not captured for three hours, the raking put Bucentaure out of the fight. In the Royal Navy's Glorious First of June (1 June 1794) battle, Admiral Richard Howe ordered his British fleet to turn through the French line and rake the opposing ships. While only a small proportion of captains and ships achieved this, it was decisive enough to turn the battle.
See also
References
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