The short answer is yes, the Navy does have balls. More specifically, the Navy has cannonballs which are spherical projectiles that were historically fired from cannons. Cannonballs were an integral part of naval warfare for centuries before the adoption of modern artillery shells.
A Brief History of Cannonballs
Cannons first appeared aboard ships in the 14th century, though early cannons were relatively primitive and low powered. By the 16th century, improved gunpowder and metallurgy allowed cannons to become devastating naval weapons. The round shape of cannonballs allowed them to be easily stacked and rolled inside cannon barrels.
Early cannonballs were made of stone, but by the 17th century most were cast from iron. They ranged from 12 to 42 pounds in weight. Heavy cannonballs could smash through wooden hulls and superstructures, killing crew and destroying rigging. Lighter cannonballs were anti-personnel weapons, sweeping enemy decks with deadly shrapnel.
Naval Tactics Using Cannonballs
The advent of cannons transformed naval warfare. Ships armed with cannons could destroy an enemy vessel without needing to grapple and board. Squadrons of ships armed with cannons could blast away at each other from a distance in epic naval battles.
Different types of shots were developed to maximize the effectiveness of cannonballs. Solid iron rounds inflicted structural damage. “Chained shot” linked two balls together to shred sails and rigging. “Grapeshot” released a spread of smaller balls that acted like a giant shotgun. Red hot “hot shot” could set enemy ships ablaze.
The End of the Cannonball Era
By the mid 19th century, cannons were being supplanted by exploding artillery shells. In the American Civil War, shells proved far more destructive against wooden warships than solid cannonballs. The Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862 demonstrated the power of shell-firing guns versus old-fashioned cannonballs.
Still, cannonballs remained in service even after cannon rifles became standard. Older muzzleloading cannons were still used, kept loaded with balls rather than complex shells. Cannonballs were part of naval armaments as late as the 1890s before finally becoming obsolete.
Cannonballs in the Modern Navy
Today, the cannonball has been relegated to history. They exist now only as antiquities recovered from sunken wrecks or war memorials. Yet the spherical cannonball remains an iconic symbol of the Age of Sail, instantly recognizable in naval artwork and weapons collections.
So in summary, yes – the U.S. Navy historically had many, many iron and stone balls for naval warfare. They were a crucial part of the naval arsenal for over 300 years. While no longer in service, cannonballs remain a cultural legacy of the Navy’s past.