A CABLE WAS THE LENGTH OF THE ANCHOR CHAIN OF A SEVENTEEN EIGHTY SHIPI think the range of a cannon in those days firing round shot would be about three miles.Carron works in Falkirk scotland was a famous cannon factory they invanted a way of boring out the tube using waterpowered drills and all ADMIRAL NELSON'S shipps were equipped with a pair of carronades a short large calibre gun mounted in the fo'csle.there is some conjecture that the carronade was pre-dated somewhat by the english made "smasher" CCserxRGF