Part 57: Q&A - November 18

Empire Total War: The Second 80 Years War quick online Q&A

Q: Why were the Dutch cannons less deadly than the Spanish ones? Weren't the Dutch using more advanced cannons?

A: The Spanish demicannon is a 24 pound gun, meaning the munition is 24 pounds compared to the Dutch foot artillery firing a 12 pound ball. Every advancement had some trade offs, and in this case, the lighter 12 pound cannon gained mobility by losing potency.

In the battles around Spain, the Dutch infantry had to get fairly close to the deadly Spanish guns, and in those ranges, a 24 pound burst of grape shot could create a much wider and deadlier cone than a 12 pound cannon could, even though the old, outdated demicannon was being phased out.