Ship warfare before cannons

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Azinctus

Have I made a mistake? Don't rowers face the stern, unless the rammer is overhauling them from the stern they will be hit in the chest. If they are hit in the back then the speed of the collision will be much lower and they'll have more time to lift their oars.

No, no mistake on your part! I was only pointing out that it might happen that you'd depend on your colleague's readiness, not just on your own. What you described is, as far as we know, the most common scenario.