Core range

The core range is the distance from the gun to the target at which the projectile describes an approximately horizontal trajectory and also hits the target almost horizontally. For this purpose, you can still aim over the pipe, ballistic calculations are not yet necessary. Until the introduction of rifled barrels, the core range was the only sensible area of ​​application for ( ship ) guns.

The typical core range of a field snake (English culverine) of the 16th century was around 800 meters, that of a cannon around 500 meters. Therefore ship-to-ship battles were usually fought in close combat .