Shots fired from vessel, not well protected (9)
I believe the answer is:
artillery
'shots fired' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'vessel not well protected' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'not well' could be 'ill' ('ill' is the opposite to 'well') and 'ill' is found within the answer.
'vessel' could be 'artery' (artery is a kind of vessel) and 'artery' is found within the leftover letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'from' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for artillery that I've seen before include "Heavy weapons" , "Army unit that uses big guns" , "Ordnance" , "Missile-launchers and the like" , "group of soldiers" .)