Definitions of terms used in the Naval History section of Vientos de Poniente.
Ship of the Line
Large warship carrying 60 to 120 guns. The backbone of 18th-century navies.
Frigate
Smaller warship with a single gun deck (24 to 44 guns). Used for reconnaissance and escort.
Carronade
Short-barreled, large-caliber naval gun for close-range combat. Known as “the smasher”.
Gaztaneta System
Shipbuilding method by Antonio de Gaztaneta (1720). Robust, wide-beamed hulls.
Privateering (Corso)
Privately-owned ships authorized by the Crown to capture enemy vessels during wartime.
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