Raking fire

French frigate Poursuivante raking the British ship of the line HMS Hercule in the action of 28 June 1803.
Capture of the William Tell, by Robert Dodd. British frigate HMS Penelope raking the French ship of the line Guillaume Tell in the action of 30 March 1800.

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.

  1. ^ Wills, Sam (2008). Fighting at Sea in the Eighteenth Century: The Art of Sailing Warfare. Woodbridge UK: Boydell Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-84383-367-3. Retrieved December 5, 2014.

Raking fire

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