Artillery Upgrades
 

Design new barrel types: unicorn, carronade

In XVII-XVIII centuries, artillery was significantly improved - guns became standard and more durable. In 1757, count Shuvalov introduced the unicorn cannon type, lighter than former guns. This cannon model was a predecessor of howitzers and aided to win many victories in the Seven Years War. In 1779, British general Melwille has invented quite a new type of guns that significantly changed armament of many European military fleets. That was a short-barreled gun of a very large caliber that launched heavy cannonballs at short range and caused terrible damage to wooden vessels. Such projectile made a huge shell-hole in a ship side, loosened the hull, and caused dangerous cracks. At long distances, this gun was of no use, but most of artillery duels happened at short or medium ranges. Carron Ironworks Company, Scotland originally manufactured those powerful cannons; thus they were called carronades. These guns significantly increased vessels' broadside power.