Ships of this era were weakest at the bow and the stern, if an attacking ship could manoeuvre to cross the enemy in front or behind then they could fire directly down the length of the ship as the guns came to bear. The round shot bursting through the timbers resulted in a storm of splinters through the deck, in many ways similar to the effect of modern shellfire.
Inqanawa zelo xesha zazikhaphukhaphu kakhulu ngasemva okanye ngaphambili, ukuba inaqanawa iqhubela phambili ekunqamlezeni eyotshaba ngaphambili ingakwazi ukudubula ngqo kumgama wobude benqanawa njengokuba imipu ikulungele oko. Isithonga sokugqabhuka kokudubula okuthi kugqoboze imithi ithi saa ekwidekhi, ngokufana nqwa ngeendlela ezininzi nembhombu zale mihla.