• Units

Bessho Cannon Ship

Cannon Bune

Cannon bunes carry few crewmen and are no match for heavy ships in terms of manpower or size. Instead they are designed to act as “skirmishers” where their size is an advantage: their guns can do immense damage to an enemy vessel’s hull or crew. The bune’s oarsmen can put on a burst of speed for a short time, if needed. The sides and roof of the cannon bune are covered in thick bamboo, with small holes for the cannon to poke through, making it impossible for enemy soldiers to board it.

Medieval Japanese naval warships could be classified into three weights: heavy, medium and light. Light ships were primarily used for scouting and communication missions, and were considered too small for battle.

The Tokugawa clan did create a hybrid ship for their siege of the Osaka coastal fortress in 1615. It was small and light but also functioned as an assault ship. Based on the kobaya ships, this new type, the mekura bune, or ‘blind ship’, had fewer oarsmen to make room for additional cannons and archers. The bamboo protection covering it resembled a shell, drawing comparisons with the Korean’s famous ‘turtle ship’.

Unit Name Cannon Bune

Unit Key Cannon_Ship_Cannon_Bune

Soldiers 30

Category Medium Ship

Class Cannon Ship

Multiplayer Cost 5000

└ Multiplayer Limit 1

Recruitment Cost 800

├ Recruitment Turns 2

└ Unit Limit 2

Upkeep Cost 200

Marines 0

Seamen 30

├ Seamen Type katana_seaman

├ Melee Attack 12

└ Melee Defence 2

Gunners 16

├ Gun Type shogun_japanese_naval_cannon

├ Range 300

└ Fire Power 90

Accuracy 65

Reloading Skill 10

Hull Strength 200

├ Ship Category Cannon_Ship_Bow

├ Manoeuvrability Medium

└ Top Speed 8

Morale 11

Abilities

• Fast Reload
  This increases the reload skill of a ship's crew for a short period of time.
• Faster Rowing
  This increases a ship's rowing speed and lasts considerably longer than the battle speed ability.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Devastating at range.
• Fast moving ship.
• Cannot be boarded.
• Late game but no match for European ships.