A Method for Concentrating the Fire of a Broadside of a Ship of War: With an Appendix, Containing Several Subjects Connected With the Naval Service

A Method For Concentrating The Fire Of A Broadside Of A Ship Of War: With An Appendix, Containing Several Subjects Connected With The Naval Service" by William Kennish documents a mid-19th-century naval treatise on concentrating the broadside fire of ships of war. The work presents a detailed account of theoretical and practical improvements to naval gunnery, including the invention and refinement of a new bed and quoin system, breast-pieces for consistent gun elevation, and an integrated instrument suite (notably the Marine Theodolite) to direct and synchronize fires across a broadside. The text recounts multiple trials aboard Royal Navy vessels, endorsements from officers, and recognition by the Admiralty and the Society for the Encouragement of Arts. It also contains an appendix describing methods for engaging batteries at long range, floating artillery, and an early form of a fuze intended to burst shells on impact. The volume combines technical diagrams with explanatory narrative, illustrating how mathematical positioning and precision alignment could enhance naval combat effectiveness during the age of sail.