Broadsides are a type of naval warfare tactic that involve two ships facing each other and firing cannons at one another. The term 'broadsides' is derived from the fact that the cannons were fired from the sides of the ships. The two crossword solutions, RAMS (4 letters) and SLAMS (5 letters), are both related to this tactic. Rams involve one ship ramming into the side of the other, while SLAMS involve one ship slamming into the side of the other. Both tactics were used in naval warfare during the Age of Sail.