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Corey, could it be that there is a central ring under the 2 small rollers, to support the weight and act as the central pivot? (this could be obscured by the mast in your last picture) There could be rollers under the bulwark pivot so that the whole cannon could be swung without lifting the cannon up on dolleys. This is far safer on a rolling and stamping ship that is under fire. And a lot faster too.
That switching side would go a bit like this: Lower the central pivot (raises the small rollers off the deck), unfasten the cannon from the deck/bulwark, and simply swing the gun around, retackle it at the other side and raise the central pivot. Like how you lower the bogey wheel on a caravan/small trailer!
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