How did pirates light their cannons?

Question

How did pirates light their cannons?

Answer 1

There were no flaming torches or open cauldrons on a fighting ship due to the fire hazard: all candles and oil lamps were kept behind glass, and even the galley or kitchen had a stove. Instead, gunners lit the cannon fuses before the battle using a tinder box, and clamped them onto a special stick known as a linstock. Gunpowder was stored in a room called the magazine which had wet curtains to absorb any sparks.

It took six pirates to load and fire a cannon. First it had to be hauled back, the barrel swabbed, and a bag of gunpowder loaded down the muzzle. The powder was provided by the powder monkey - usually a boy tasked with fetching fresh powder from below decks. Next, the bag had to be pierced with a sharp spike, an iron ball was rammed down the muzzle, and cotton wadding packed on top to provide an airtight seal. The cannon was then pushed back through the gun ports, aimed by the senior gunner, and fired by placing a lighted fuse in a hole in the breech. The crew had to stand well clear to avoid being crushed by the recoil. Sometimes other types of shot were used, such as chains to tear down the rigging or canister shot to kill the enemy crew

Answer 2

The first few, they used smoldering lengths of treated rope. Towards the end of the pirate era, they were using fuses ignited by jerking on a string.

Answer 3

They light it with their penis

Answer 4

Modern cannon had Flint Locks, same as the rifles.

Earlier cannon used Match locks,

Prior cannon you would put a lit lin stock ("slow match") fuse to the "Flash Hole" and the spark would fall into the powder sack.

Answer 5

Towards the end of the pirate era, they were using fuses ignited by jerking on a string..

Answer 6

Towards the end of the pirate era, they were using fuses ignited by jerking on a string..

Answer 7

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Answer 8

The first few, they used smoldering lengths of treated rope. Towards the end of the pirate era, they were using fuses ignited by jerking on a string..

Answer 9

From a 'slow match' which was a slow burning wick lit with flint and steel.

Answer 10

With a match...



Not the strike on the box kind, but a rope that burned slowly but at a relatively high temperature (the rope was normally tarred). When loading the cannon, there would be a small hole that needed to be primed with "gun cotton" rather than gun powder, as well as the main explosive charge. So, when the match touched the gun cotton, the flame would set off the main charge after a couple of seconds.

Answer 11

they soaked Rope in Oil and Lit it from the Fire in the Calderon Placed near the cannons

Gunpowder does not need a Light Just a spark to set it off.

Answer 12

they soaked Rope in Oil and Lit it from the Fire in the Calderon Placed near the cannons

Gunpowder does not need a Light Just a spark to set it off.

Answer 13

Match

Answer 14

With a flintlock attached to the touch hole. They pulled the cord to spark off the gun powder.

Answer 15

A flaming torch. Booooom!

Answer 16

They had a fuse on them, lit with a long match!

Answer 17

probably stuck a lit joint to it

Answer 18

torch

Answer 19

with a flaming torch.

Answer 20

With a torch.

Answer 21

They didn't because their pet water bugs did it for them. :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD