Changes in the role of people

• What was the time period discussed regarding the success of the British Armed Forces due to technical innovation?

  1790-1918
• What major improvements did the Royal Navy undergo under Lord Howe, Rear Admiral Middleton, and Major-General Blomefield?

  The Royal Navy underwent major improvements following its poor performance in the War of Independence.
• What was maintained at wartime levels during the peace in the 1780s?

  Shipbuilding was maintained at wartime levels during the peace in the 1780s.
• Who was behind the initiative of coppering in the Royal Navy?

  Middleton was behind the initiative of coppering.
• What was the effect of coppering on Royal Navy vessels?

  Coppering improved the performance of Royal Navy vessels and allowed them to stay at sea for longer.
• What improvements did Royal Ordnance, led by Major-General Blomefield, make?

  Royal Ordnance improved the quality of naval guns.
• What requirement did Blomefield implement for new naval guns?

  Every new naval gun had to be fired 30 times before it was installed on a ship.
• What firing mechanism was changed to improve naval guns?

  The firing mechanism was changed to the more reliable flintlock firing mechanism.
• What was perhaps the most important advancement in naval warfare during this time?

  The actions of a private company, specifically the development of the carronade.
• Where was the carronade first developed?

  At the Carron ironworks in Falkirk.
• What was the design purpose of the carronade?

  The carronade was designed for merchant vessels to give them something to fight back with.
• How did the carronade differ from conventional naval guns?

  The carronade had a shorter barrel but a wider muzzle, allowing for a broader angle of fire.
• What advantages did the carronade offer in terms of reloading and gunpowder usage?


  The carronade was quick to reload and used very little gunpowder.
• What was the first use of a carronade in action?

  The first use of a carronade was in 1782 by the frigate, HMS Rainbow.
• What was the outcome of the carronade's first use in action?

  It caused the surrender of the French ship Hebe after a short fight.
• What happened to HMS Glatton in 1795?

  HMS Glatton, armed entirely with carronades, was overtaken by a squadron of French ships but caused them to withdraw due to devastating fire.
• How did the carronades on HMS Victory perform during the Battle of Trafalgar?

  The two 68-pounder carronades fired through the stern windows of the French battleship Bucentaure with such force that they cleared the top gun deck.
• What change in naval tactics occurred after the wars against France ended?

  Naval tactics changed to favor long-barrelled guns for engagements at a distance.
• When were carronades phased out of Royal Navy service?

  Carronades were phased out of Royal Navy service by 1851.
• What was one of the significant impacts of carronades in naval warfare?

  Carronades showed the power of grapeshot and were devastating against personnel.
• How did the development of high explosive shells relate to the effectiveness of naval carronades?

  Development of high explosive shells fired by artillery owed much to the effectiveness of the naval carronades.
• What was the common form of wound during WW1 related to artillery?

  Shrapnel wounds from high explosive shells became the most common form of wound during WW1.
• What issue did windage address in cannon design?

  Windage refers to the space between the cannonball and the inside of the barrel, which should be as narrow as possible for efficiency.
• How did the design of carronades allow for tighter windage?

  Carronades had a much shorter barrel, allowing for tighter windage compared to longer barrelled guns.
• What was the significance of the ammunition produced for carronades?

  All carronades and their ammunition were made by the same manufacturer, ensuring a tight fit.
• How did advancements in engineering affect the issue of windage?

  As engineering became more precise, windage ceased to be a significant issue with the use of rifled barrels.
• What was the first successful use of rockets by the Royal Navy?

  The first successful use of rockets was part of an attack on Boulogne in October 1806.
• What was the psychological effect of the rocket attack on Boulogne?

  The psychological effect on both the firer and the target was massive.
• How did the Royal Navy use rockets in the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807?

  The Navy used rockets along with conventional weapons to bombard Copenhagen, resulting in a larger effect than rockets alone.
• In which conflict were rockets notably used against Fort McHenry?

  Rockets were notably used during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 against Fort McHenry.
• What was the outcome of the bombardment of Fort McHenry?

  The bombardment lasted over 24 hours but did not achieve the surrender of the fort.
• What problem with rockets was highlighted during the experience at Fort McHenry?

  The inaccuracy of rockets meant that well-protected troops were unlikely to be physically affected by anything other than a direct hit.
• How did the navy utilize rockets for ship-to-shore bombardment?

  Rockets were easy to fix on board ships and had a greater range than conventional guns.
• What was a drawback of using rockets compared to canister or cannonballs?

  Their flightpath was erratic and they did not cause the same damage as canister or cannonballs.
• What opposition did the introduction of rockets face in the army?

  There was much opposition from veterans and conservative generals who viewed rockets as inaccurate and frivolous.
• In which battles were rockets used by the army?

  Rockets were used in the Battle of Leipzig and the Battle of Waterloo.
• What issues persisted with Congreve rockets after 1815?

  The inaccuracy problems of Congreve rockets were not solved.
• What was the outcome of the naval bombardment of Algiers in 1816 using Congreve rockets?

  The bombardment destroyed the pirate fleet anchored there and forced the city to surrender.
• What challenges did land forces face when using Congreve rockets during the First Burma War?

  The deployment was made difficult by rough roads and the rockets did not store well.
• What was a significant issue with the storage of Congreve rockets?

  Congreve rockets lost potency and reacted badly to extreme temperatures.