A
broadside is the side of a
ship, the
battery of
cannon on one side of a
warship; or their coordinated fire in
naval warfare. From the 16th century until the early decades of the
steamship, vessels had rows of guns set in each side of the
hull. Firing all guns on one side of the ship became known as a "broadside". The cannons of 18th century
men of war were accurate only at short range, and their penetrating power mediocre, entailing that the thick hulls of wooden ships could only be pierced at short ranges. These wooden ships sailed closer and closer towards each other until cannon fire would be effective. Each tried to be the first to fire a broadside, often giving one party a decisive headstart in the battle when it crippled the other ship.