So am high as shit right now
& hardcore kicking ass on Assassins Creed IV black flag(xbox one) Gamer Tag ozzieplanteater. I had a thought when sailing around in my was ship with my connons feking shit up an thought if someone build say 10 of them old ass ship that had 34 plus cannons on them an god knows what else could they take on a naval fleet of today? I mean there made from mostly wood so radar would maybe not pick them up? So would it work?
ah, no, would not accomplish anything (unless your goal was to see how quick your ships could be blown to pieces).
You could have a serious fleet of, oh lets say early 1800's Frigates...some of the baddest ass ships of their time. Lets give you 50 of them, make you a serious contender in the 1800's.
Then enter one (1) "Modern" Frigate (which is one of the LEAST powerful of modern ships. Hell, lets say only one weapon system on the frigate works. That weapon system would be a Mk 15 Phalanx. Why its only a 20mm round (less than 1 inch). Unfortunately for your fleet, it fires 4500 rounds per minute, with an accurate range of 11,800 feet (flat trajectory) Thats 2 miles before the projectile has a noticeable "Drop".
Your fleet would have muzzle loading cannon, most likely firing round shot in "broadsides". Round shot has crap penetration against armor. Its maximum range (at max elevation) would be maybe 3/4's of the Mk-15's flat trajectory range with accuracy similar (again, at max range) to an 8 year old kid making a half court shot in basketball. The British Royal Navy (best in the world at the time) could average 2-3 broadsides every 5 minutes
Basically, the modern frigate would sail in circles around your fleet, turning one of your ships into scrap wood every few seconds, using only its least powerful weapon. It wouldnt be a fight, it would be an execution.
