Pineapple grenade

[browningautorifle]

they ALWAYS fire the main armament in BROADSIDE mode

That's the only way all guns can be brought to bear. Otherwise there's obstacles at muzzle and all guns can't fire.

HMS Victory passing the stern* at point blank range and firing just a single broadside into the stern

Also quite right. They could do more damage because the ship was narrower that way and there was more likelyhood of destruction. The ball goes in the end and out the other.