Nomenclature --
I changed the header title from "rigging" to "outfitting." Evidently "rigging" refers to sails and "outfitting" refers to the gear used to service cannon.
Just like they're called "lines" not "ropes." (And it's a "fly-rod," not a "pole.")
Anyways -- outfitting the "recoil lines" on the carriage/truck.
Someone noted that it must get interesting to be jumping over the lines to load the cannon. The other feature with the "recoil lines" as they're depicted herein is that they allow the cannon to move back about the length of a ramrod or a barrel length when fired. That's a significant distance to have a ton or more of cannon rolling fast on a ship! There's a meaning to the term "loose cannon."
I'm expecting, seamen being seamen, and the whole operation of a ship being about rigging, lines, hauser, and knots . . .
I'm guessing (with no basis in fact or research, just conjecture) that the "recoil lines" may have been attached to the bulkheads by some sort of pin or hook, and that this would allow the line to be detached for loading/swabbing, and then attached -- short and tight -- to the bulkhead in order to control recoil and rolling of the carriage.
The illustrations I see depict these details variously, and I'm reminded that "illustrators" often interpret scenes and leave out essential details.
A short line, secured to the bulkhead with a pin or hook, would allow access to the cannon -- tethered with side and train tackle. The ring feature on the cascabel, through which the recoil line is passed, would aid in keeping untensioned lines in place.
Running though large cheek rings, and over the cascabel, a recoil line would need be only detached from one side to allow the carriage to be "run in" for loading. Then once loaded, the carriage would be run out for firing with side tackle, and the recoil line brought taut and secured to the bulkhead.
Seems intuitive. Any historical basis to support or refute?
