Originally posted by aslyfox 
who know for sure
but I know that a " long 9 " was considered a " bow/ stern chaser " and had a longer range
I don't have a good eye for old muzzle-loaders, but I think this is no more than a "four-pounder"
FOLLOWUP after some quick research. The absolute maximum range of a four-pounder was/is 1.2 kilometers (optimum upward tilt), with an effective range of 700 meters (to strike a target with force). So if this is a four-pounder, it could not get a ball to the top of that volcano, no where close.
FOLLOWUP #2: I GOOGLED some maps of the Azores and the distance from the cannon to the shore of the far island is about three miles, so this canon could not get a ball onto the island, but the peak of that volcano is more than six miles back from the shoreline, so this cannon's best shot would fall at least nine miles short of the volcano's summit. It's definitely a long shot. BTW: Distances estimated from the mileage bar, so I could be off. Please don't precise-correct me.
Were the cannon very close to the base of the mountain, it still could not place a ball upon the summit because its altitude is 2351 meters, almost twice the maximum range of a four-pounder, and therefore way more than twice the height such a cannon could throw a ball straight up.
FOLLOWUP #3: I finally found a chart for maximum theoretical range of muzzle-loading cannons of various poundage. A nine-pounder is rated at a maximum range of 3.5 kilometers, still not enough to reach the far island and well over eight miles short of getting to the peak of that volcano. The longest range of any muzzle-loading cannon is given as 5.1 kilometers (=3.2 miles) which means it could get a ball onto the beach of the far island, still more than six miles short of that volcano. We'll sit here atop the mountain and watch the pretty blasts from those muzzle-loaders - no worry.
Last edited by WPRESTO; 08-06-2018 at 05:53 AM.
Post #42705 by Bud
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