Gunboat: Difference between revisions
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{{Era| | {{Era|Transportation}}{{WP-REAL}} | ||
{{WP-REAL}} | [[File:ACIII-Chase 2.png|thumb|250px|British gunboat attacking a merchant ship]] | ||
A '''gunboat''' is a [[boat|small watercraft]] armed with one or more guns for the purpose of bombarding coastal targets or harassing larger warships. In the 18th century, [[Europe]]an naval forces like the [[Royal Navy]], the [[Spanish Navy]], [[French Navy]], and the [[Portuguese Navy]] all included gunboats in their fleets to support their capital ships.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref><ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref><ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref> | |||
==Description== | |||
From the [[War of Spanish Succession]] to the [[Seven Years' War]] and the [[American Revolutionary War]], the gunboat was used as a quick response attack vessel by not only the navies but civilian operators as well. This was due to its extremely simple design that required very little crew. This lightly armed vessel provided ample speed and a quick rate of fire, with the trade-off being that it bore next-to-no armor whatsoever. Each ship was composed of a single mast and a sleek, low hull, and was capable of fielding just two frontal guns, capable of shooting both the standard round shot and the wide-spray grapeshot.<ref name="AC3"/><ref name="AC4"/><ref name="ACRG"/> | |||
== | Due to their sparse protection and tiny profile, gunboats were highly vulnerable to ramming by larger vessels like [[frigate]]s, [[brig]]s, or [[Man O' War|Men O' War]], almost always being instantly rent asunder by their bows. Single shots from [[swivel gun]]s would be enough to destroy any gunboat of this era. Their sole function was to act as the naval equivalent of skirmishers, carrying little to no cargo other than ammunition. While fragile and weak in firepower, a common tactic by navies in an age where watercraft were made from [[wood]] was to convert these gunboats into [[fireship]]s which were then sent careening into large enemy ships in the hope of setting them aflame.<ref name="AC3"/><ref name="AC4"/><ref name="ACRG"/> | ||
==History== | |||
In June 1716, the [[France|French]] [[Piracy|pirate]] [[Alonzo Batilla]] was given command of a gunboat, the ''[[Serpent]]'', by Captain [[Olivier Levasseur]], after the latter saved him and [[Jumao]] from [[John Barnes]]' captivity.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'' – [[Prologue (Pirates)|Prologue]]</ref> Alonzo and Jumao used the ''Serpent'' for a time, until eventually replacing it with a [[schooner]] called the ''[[Wanderer]]'', which they seized from the [[Royal Navy]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'' – [[A Legend is Born]]</ref> | |||
[[File:ACFT - John's ship.png|thumb|200px|left|John Young's gunboat]] | |||
In February 1725, the [[Dutch East India Company]] navigator [[John Young]] defected from the company to rescue the [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassin]] [[Edward Kenway]] from an ambush by [[Shimazu clan]] [[ninja]] at [[Macau]]'s harbor, and stole a gunboat, using its [[cannon]] to dispatch Edward's assailants.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 5|Episode 5]]</ref> John subsequently kept the ship, using it several times to sail Edward from [[Zhang's village]], where they had both taken refuge, to Macau and back.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 7|Episode 7]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 9|Episode 9]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 10|Episode 10]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 12|Episode 12]]</ref> At one point, Edward and John also used the gunboat to thwart a pirate attack on [[Lee Huiyin|Madam Lee]]'s merchant fleet.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 15|Episode 15]]</ref> | |||
Following the events that transpired at [[Sun's floating gambling hall]], John stole another gunboat to save Edward, [[Shimazu Saito]], and [[Xialun Qing]] from Admiral [[Zheng]]'s fleet, which had destroyed the gambling ship. With the help of the [[Zhawang Corporation|Zhang Wei Union]]'s flagship ''[[Fenghuang]]'', which forced Zheng's fleet to retreat, the group ultimately escaped to safety.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 39|Episode 39]]</ref> | |||
During the same period, the [[Japan]]ese [[mercenary]] [[Nagamasa]] and his pirate crew also commanded a gunboat, which they used in their [[raid]]s throughout the [[Philippines]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 80|Episode 80]]</ref> After allying with the Zhang Wei Union, Nagamasa and his men used their ship to assist the Union's members on several occasions, such as saving Edward and John from the [[Sultanate of Sulu]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 92|Episode 92]]</ref> pursuing an [[East India Company]] Man O' War to the [[Strait of Malacca]] to recover a [[Piece of Eden]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 108|Episode 108]]</ref> and fighting through a naval [[Blockade of Indochina|blockade]] off the coast of {{Wiki|Indochina}}.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 116|Episode 116]]</ref> | |||
==Notable gunboats== | |||
*''[[Serpent]]'' | |||
==Appearances== | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' {{1st}} | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Pirates]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{AC4}} | {{AC4}} | ||
[[Category: | {{ACP}} | ||
{{ACRG}} | |||
{{ACFT}} | |||
[[Category:Gunboats| ]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:53, 1 November 2025
A gunboat is a small watercraft armed with one or more guns for the purpose of bombarding coastal targets or harassing larger warships. In the 18th century, European naval forces like the Royal Navy, the Spanish Navy, French Navy, and the Portuguese Navy all included gunboats in their fleets to support their capital ships.[1][2][3]
Description[edit | edit source]
From the War of Spanish Succession to the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War, the gunboat was used as a quick response attack vessel by not only the navies but civilian operators as well. This was due to its extremely simple design that required very little crew. This lightly armed vessel provided ample speed and a quick rate of fire, with the trade-off being that it bore next-to-no armor whatsoever. Each ship was composed of a single mast and a sleek, low hull, and was capable of fielding just two frontal guns, capable of shooting both the standard round shot and the wide-spray grapeshot.[1][2][3]
Due to their sparse protection and tiny profile, gunboats were highly vulnerable to ramming by larger vessels like frigates, brigs, or Men O' War, almost always being instantly rent asunder by their bows. Single shots from swivel guns would be enough to destroy any gunboat of this era. Their sole function was to act as the naval equivalent of skirmishers, carrying little to no cargo other than ammunition. While fragile and weak in firepower, a common tactic by navies in an age where watercraft were made from wood was to convert these gunboats into fireships which were then sent careening into large enemy ships in the hope of setting them aflame.[1][2][3]
History[edit | edit source]
In June 1716, the French pirate Alonzo Batilla was given command of a gunboat, the Serpent, by Captain Olivier Levasseur, after the latter saved him and Jumao from John Barnes' captivity.[4] Alonzo and Jumao used the Serpent for a time, until eventually replacing it with a schooner called the Wanderer, which they seized from the Royal Navy.[5]
In February 1725, the Dutch East India Company navigator John Young defected from the company to rescue the British Assassin Edward Kenway from an ambush by Shimazu clan ninja at Macau's harbor, and stole a gunboat, using its cannon to dispatch Edward's assailants.[6] John subsequently kept the ship, using it several times to sail Edward from Zhang's village, where they had both taken refuge, to Macau and back.[7][8][9][10] At one point, Edward and John also used the gunboat to thwart a pirate attack on Madam Lee's merchant fleet.[11]
Following the events that transpired at Sun's floating gambling hall, John stole another gunboat to save Edward, Shimazu Saito, and Xialun Qing from Admiral Zheng's fleet, which had destroyed the gambling ship. With the help of the Zhang Wei Union's flagship Fenghuang, which forced Zheng's fleet to retreat, the group ultimately escaped to safety.[12]
During the same period, the Japanese mercenary Nagamasa and his pirate crew also commanded a gunboat, which they used in their raids throughout the Philippines.[13] After allying with the Zhang Wei Union, Nagamasa and his men used their ship to assist the Union's members on several occasions, such as saving Edward and John from the Sultanate of Sulu,[14] pursuing an East India Company Man O' War to the Strait of Malacca to recover a Piece of Eden,[15] and fighting through a naval blockade off the coast of Indochina.[16]
Notable gunboats[edit | edit source]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- Assassin's Creed: Pirates
- Assassin's Creed: Rogue
- Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed III
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Assassin's Creed: Rogue
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Pirates – Prologue
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Pirates – A Legend is Born
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 5
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 7
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 9
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 10
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 12
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 15
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 39
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 80
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 92
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 108
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 116
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