The Royal Navy before 1793 Flashcards
What did Nelson’s first captain say about his abilities as a sailor / fighter?
“What had poor Horace done who is so weak that he above all the rest should be sent to rough it out at sea?”
What is ‘coppering’?
coating the underside of the hull of a ship in copper panels
–> improved the speed and manoeuvrability of ship
–> introduced by Charles Middleton, Comptroller of the Navy in 1779
What were ships of the line?
main battleships
- had over 70 guns
- crews consisted of hundreds of men
How many ships of the line did the Royal Navy have in 1793?
135
What were frigates?
smaller and faster ships
- had 28-36 guns
- used for scouting, patrolling, conveying merchants
How many frigates did the Royal Navy have in 1793?
133
How many ships in commission did the Royal Navy have in 1793?
125
How many officers and sea men did the Royal Navy have in 1793?
20,000
What was a broadside?
the firing of all guns on one side of a ship simultaneously
What tactics were often used by the Royal Navy in battle? (4)
- broadsides
- blockades
- if close enough, enemy ships were often boarded by the crew
- captured enemy ships were repaired, renamed, and reused
What was an open blockade?
when frigates patrolled the enemy port and sailed back and forth to inform the main fleet of any activity, which wasn’t stationed too far
What was a closed blockade?
when the main fleet sailed close to the enemy port, intercepting any ships that tried to enter/exit
What was standard gun procedure?
- since 1745, every RN ship had to practice gunnery every day
- each gun was manned by a team of 7 sailors
- gun captains were responsible for the aiming and firing of a gun
At what speed could British seamen release a broadside?
one every 1.5 minutes
–> speed of broadsides could determine the outcome of a battle
From which background did most British naval officers come?
the professional middle class
- often sons or relations of naval officers
- family influence could ensure that some officers were fast-tracked
- often began career in the navy at the age of 12, as midshipmen
What was the navy’s recruitment issue and its solution?
there was no conscription, however, not enough people were signing up voluntarily
–> impressment
–> criminals offered joining navy as alternative to sentence
What was impressment?
The Impressment Service had the power to force seafarers (15-55y/o) into the Royal Navy
How did the impressment system work?
- press gangs were sent around the country the recruit suitable men
- captains were also allowed to press merchant seamen into service, as long as they replaced them with one of their own crew
What was the quota system?
(impressment) each county had to supply a certain number of volunteers based on its population and number of seaports
What was the typical pay of an able-bodied naval seamen in 1793?
- 22s.6d
- half of a merchant seamen’s wage
- no wage increase since 1652
- paid often months in arrears
Where did sailors sleep?
Hammocks, 14 inches wide
How did sailors eat?
- guaranteed 5,000 calories per day because of physically demanding work
- food wasn’t very nutritious
What was the discipline like?
quite harsh
–> could be flogged with the cat-O’-9-tails (a whip with nine knotted tails)
How were crews rewarded for capturing ships?
could win money from selling captured enemy ships
–> officers were given the lion’s share but crewmen did receive something
What improvements had been made to the RN before 1793? (no gunnery)
- sailors given fruit and vegetables to prevent scurvy
- dockyards were supervised closely to minimise waste and corruption
- coppering (less repairs and better mobility)
What improvements had been made to gunnery in the RN before 1793?
- carronade invented and implemented
- ordnance board stated that new guns should be fired 30 times before being accepted
- gunlocks replaced slowmatches (more efficient = faster broadsides)
What was a carronade
a cast-iron cannon that was fast, light, able to swivel, with a short fat muzzle
–> fitted ti the forecastles and sterns of warships
–> unmatched by the French
What was a grapeshot?
an iron shot contained in a canvas bag that scatters when fired
What was the Ordnance Board?
the government agency responsible for arms, armament, and munitions
What was a comptroller of the navy?
the head of the Navy Board; responsible for building and maintaining ships
