Pre-steam sailing rams

The problem is that you are ramming (in the usual sense of the word) directly into the other ship - and since the only way you can do that is the wind pushing you in that direction, you have the very source of your motive power making it harder to extract yourself.

Not the same situation as an ordinary collusion via bumping into the other ship.
 
Furthermore the whole reason why rams had a vogue in the 19th century was due to the belief that ironclad ships' armour was now so strong that guns could not penetrate it. This obviously does not apply to wooden ships so where would the incentive for reviving ramming come from?

As I already explained 1. Battles were indecisive 2. ships can't outfight those out of their class.

Rams came into fashion to break the deadlock, it could do the same earlier - in fact was standard practice during classical times.
 
As said they're a bit impractical.

Also...thinking of steam rams- is it just me or did they sink more friendly ships in accidents than enemy ships? I can't think of any example of them seeing real action but a fair few accidental sinkings.

This is only because the second half of the 19th century was an extended period of naval inactivity. The ram came into being after the Battle of Lissa in 1866 and became obsolete by the time of the Battle of the Yalu when more powerful guns made ramming obsolete. Had there been a lot of naval action between those years, the ram would have been a principle weapon of war.
 
tallwingedgoat said:
As I already explained 1. Battles were indecisive 2. ships can't outfight those out of their class.

(I know this isn't to me but as a student of naval warfare I want to comment)

1: Not true. What battles were "not decisive" in this age because of a lack of ability to do sufficiently damage to the other guy to achieve victory?

2: I don't even know where to begin correcting this.

This will do: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/war1812/atsea/ches-sn.htm

Yes, its between frigates, but the same principle applies.

Now, this may not be as true for iron ships, but you're specifically referring to wooden sailing (or at most the sail-and-steam wooden ship) era.

Rams came into fashion to break the deadlock, it could do the same earlier - in fact was standard practice during classical times.
With oars, an entirely different ship design, and no cannon.

Apples and turnips. Not even apples and oranges.

No it doesn't. You're on water for God's sake. Ships rarely stop after a collision. They keep on moving from the momentum.

Ships rarely ram into each other bow to flank the way you're describing. The momentum will make them go further into the ship being targeted - making the problem worse.
 
When was the last time you heard a car collision where the two vehicles get entangled together? That's Hollywood physics.

Car collisions aren't even remotely similar to ramming attacks because, among others things, cars don't have pointy bits which are deliberately rammed in the bodies of other cars during collisions. The fact you think a car collision is good model for a ramming attack suggests you having no real understanding of the issues involved here.

In history, as opposed to what ever fantasy world you've been researching in, withdrawing after a ramming attack has been critical. CSS Merrimac came within minutes of foundering when, after ramming USS Cumberland and that vessel beginning to sink, Merrimac was unable to pull her ram bow clear of Cumberland's hull. It was only that fact that the ironclad's ram broke off which kept from sinking along with sloop.

From the classical era up through the 19th Century and beyond there are many other examples of ships ramming other ships, deliberately or not, only to be dragged down by their victims because they were unable to withdraw in time from the other vessel as it sank.
 
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Car collisions aren't even remotely similar to ramming attacks because, among others things, cars don't have pointy bits which are deliberately rammed in the bodies of other cars during collisions. The fact you think a car collision is good model for a ramming attack suggests you having no real understanding of the issues involved here. In history, as opposed to what ever fantasy world you've been researching in, withdrawing after a ramming attack has been critical. CSS Merrimac came within minutes of foundering when, after ramming USS Cumberland and that vessel beginning to sink, Merrimac was unable to pull her ram bow clear of Cumberland's hull. It was only that fact that the ironclad's ram broke off which kept from sinking along with sloop. From the classical era up through the 19th Century and beyond there are many other examples of ships ramming other ships, deliberately or not, only to be dragged down by their victims because they were unable to withdraw in time from the other vessel as it sank.

As they say: "THIS."

And the Virginia (Merrimac is her name before being raised from the grave and rebuilt as anntirely new ship) had steam engines to assist in pulling herself out. Weak, water logged, and probably not well designed ones, but still. A sailing ram is in a much more hopeless situation due to the lack of ability to have the motive power cooperate.
 
Uh no, can't you read my post? It answered your question already. When was the last time you heard a car collision where the two vehicles get entangled together? That's Hollywood physics.

I did read your post. The problem is that you clearly don't know anything about what you are talking about. The USS Constitution, on average and undoubtedly with a clean hull, makes about 13 knots, 15 miles per hour. Exactly what type of ramming damage do you expect to make at hurtling along at 15 miles an hour?
 
Uh no, can't you read my post? It answered your question already. When was the last time you heard a car collision where the two vehicles get entangled together? That's Hollywood physics.
Other people already answered this but i have to make a comment.
Not only do cars not have pointy bits, they don't have big sails and masts that act as their engine.
You forcibly ram your sailing ship into another sailing ship ad your mast at least some of your sails will probably get entangled on something.
Ta Da! Your suddenly stuck.
Don't believe me, wrap your hand in a shirt and punch a thick thorn bush, then slowly try to pull your hand out. It will be very hard to do. now iimagine its the wind trying to pull you out.
 
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