Naval Cannon Ballistic Analysis

Using the Bashforth Equation, 1885
by Paul F. Watson

Introduction: This webpage contains a "live" computer program that calculates cannon shell impact conditions for naval vessels (range, velocity, angle and flight time). It is based on the historical 1885 Bashforth Equation; but, will still give realistic results. It is here for your use! If you have JavaScript as in your browser (likely yes), it should work. Just run the analysis right from this web page see! Very brief instructions are provided below.

Instructions:

  1. Fill in the blanks for the form below.
  2. Then click the "Do It!" button.
  3. An 'alert window' will pop up after about one second & tell you the range in feet.
  4. Click the 'OK' button
  5. All the answers (range, impact velocity etc. will populate on web page below!
  6. To re-run the problem with a couple of changes, just make the form corrections & click "Do It!"

Case Example Nation DF for angle Range ft Hist. Reference
Brit Cannons 24# & 32#
5.55 & 6.10"
U.K. ~1.2 ~1920 @ 5 deg 5
Trafalgar 1890
13.5"
U.K. .79 ~35850 @ 13.5 deg 2
Nelson 1905
12"
U.K. .85 ~49200 @ 13.5 deg 2
WWI 1908-1914
13.5" & 14"
U.K. .52 ~69300 @ 20 deg 3
WWI 1908-1914
11" & 12"
Germany .61 ~60000 @ 16 deg 3
Post WWI New Mexico 1918
14"
U.S. .45 ~75000 @ 15 deg 4
Interwar 1931
Dunkerque 13"
France .4 ~83000 @ 15 deg 4
WWII 1940 Vitorio
Veneto 15"
Italy .4 ~86000 @ 15 deg 4
WWII King
George V 1940 14"
U.K. .49 ~64500 @ 15 deg 4
WWII North
Carolina 1941 16"
U.S. .45 ~63000 @ 15 deg 4
Ogival head
radius=1.0 calibre
French Testing 1.026 TBD 1
Ogival head
radius=1.5 calibre
Interpolation 1.00 30442 note 1 1
Ogival head
radius=2.0 clibre
French Testing .97433 TBD 1
Hemispherical
head
N/A 1.243 27923 note 1 1
Flat
head
N/A 1.88 N/A 1
Typical Drag Factors
Find something similar to your problem & use the value

Note 1: Range was analyzed for muzzel velocity = 2000 ft/sec and gun elevation = 13.5 deg bore=12" w=864 lb
Note 2: Gun elevation for battleship primary batteries was generally restricted by gun mount construction. Early British ships generally were restricted to 16.5 degrees elevation. King George V in 1940 was restricted to 30 degrees.
Note 3: The longest range hit ever recorded was in the Mediterranean Sea when HMS Warspite hit an Italian battleship at 25000 yards with a 15 inch shell. This suggests that analysis of firing angles resulting in ranges over 25000 yards are generally irrelivant. i.e. over 25000 yards, a battleship is unlikely to hit an opposing ship.

Image of Ballistic Initial Conditions

Enter firing conditions:

Enter description of analysis:

Enter gun bore diameter in inches:

Enter muzzle velocity in ft/sec

Enter shell weight pounds (push enter for default):

Enter barrel elevation (from horizontal) in degrees:

Enter optional drag factor (.8 to 1.5) or press enter



Image of Balistic Initial Conditions

Projectile Impact Solution:

Analysis Description:

Range at impact ft :

Impact Velocity ft/sec:

Impact Angle deg:

Flight time sec:

Danger Interval in ft:


In the future, I will add a link to a web page explaining the historical Bashforth equation & a few comments about how this approach differs from modern day analysis approaches.

A second future article will discuss & explain the importance to gunnery of each of the outputs of this analysis. For example, a flight time of 30 seconds guarantees the enemy vessel will move beyond the "aiming point" and shells will fall behind. This was the reason mechanical fire control computers were designed and implemented before the start of WWI.

References:

  1. Exterior Ballistics 1885 by Lieutenants J.F. Meigs, U.S.N. and R.R. Ingersol, U.S.N. 1885 (page 20)
  2. British Battleships 1889-1904 by R. A. Burt, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, copyright 1988 by R.A. Burt (pages 45-46)
  3. Jutland, An Analysis of the Fighting by John Campbell, Published in the U.S. by Naval Institute Press, copyright 1986 (table Chapter 18)
  4. United States Battleships in World War II by Robert O. Dulin and Jr., William H Garzke, Jr., copyright 1976 by U.S. Naval Institute (Appendix C)
  5. Seacoast Fortifications of the United States, by Emanuel Raymond Lewis,(c) 1970, Naval Institute Press


Contact the author paul-watson@sbcglobal.net by e-mail.
© 2020 (updated April 2020) to output Danger Intervals All Rights Reserved
Paul F. Watson


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