What was artillery's use in ETW's time?

[anweRU]

Also the logic is fataly flawed...as if you are bouncing shot across the water surface how does it then manage to strike the target below the water line

Note that for this to work (if it does), you have to have a very low trajectory shot fired from the lowest gun deck (not something you'd want to do rough seas).

If the shot skips successfully, it is not going to bounce high into the air. The trajectory has to be very flat, probably less than 10 degrees. By the time the shot reaches the enemy ship, gravity and momentum would have done their job and it would hit right above or below the waterline.

It is a nice little simulation project for an undergraduate physics course.

Also would be a fun project for Myth Busters.