I'm not sure, are swivel guns anti personel?

[Bjornu]

As the title says: Are Swivel guns used to take a shot at the crew of the enemy ship?

If not, can you tell me where they are used for?

Are Swivel guns optional on a ship, or are they standard equipment?

greetz Bjornu

[Captain Becker]

Swivel guns, or Nikhakas as i call them, were used to take down the enemy crew, but the range of them werent good, so they were in close combat weapon. And i think there was atleast 4 swiwel guns on the ship, and in small Convoy ships they only had swiels to project them self. So its up to you if you want to put swivels onto your ship. Example: Sloops had usually 8 guns and 4 swivel guns.

Captain Becker

[Warhorse47]

Swivel guns were commonly used against the crews of small boats who were trying to board a ship.

[derLiebesmuskel]

As stated already here Swivel-guns were an anti-personnel weapon. They were used primarily to "sweep the weather deck" to better a boarding party's odds of capture.

[Captain Green Hair]

Swivel guns were commonly used against the crews of small boats who were trying to board a ship.

That is correct!

[Horry]

Example: Sloops had usually 8 guns and 4 swivel guns.

Captain Becker

Well, not entirely correct. A sloop would be any ship smaller than a post-frigate and could therefore carry any number of cannons under 20. Swivel guns would also not be classified as cannons and therefore not add to the rating. Some ships of a size large than a brig or a schooner would sometimes only carry swivel guns and still be officially "unarmed" - but you are essentially right: they are excellent weapons of choice in terms of self-defense.

[derLiebesmuskel]

I stumbled across this Wikipedia article and thought I'd share this bit since I remember there was some talk as to the number of swivel guns on a ship:

"For instance, HMS Cynthia was rated for 18 guns but during construction her rating was reduced to 16 guns (6-pounders), and she also carried 14 half-pound swivels."

So I'd say load that puppy down with swivel guns. :D