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Period Naval Artillery Commands


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Ahoy mates! I need help finding authentic 18th century artillery commands for naval combat. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks for your help.

"Now then, me bullies! Would you rather do the gallows dance, and hang in chains 'til the crows pluck your eyes from your rotten skulls? Or would you feel the roll of a stout ship beneath your feet again?"

---Captain William Kidd---

(1945)

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http://www.hmsrichmond.org/images/Gun%20exercise.pdf

This is the one I use for later period, with, of course, modifications for modern safety regs.

Hawkyns

Cannon add dignity to what otherwise would be merely an ugly brawl

I do what I do for my own reasons.

I do not require anyone to follow me.

I do not require society's approval for my actions or beliefs.

if I am to be judged, let me be judged in the pure light of history, not the harsh glare of modern trends.

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That is a great one, thank you Hawkyns! I wonder if any exist that have pictures or diagrams of the various movements and positions?

"Now then, me bullies! Would you rather do the gallows dance, and hang in chains 'til the crows pluck your eyes from your rotten skulls? Or would you feel the roll of a stout ship beneath your feet again?"

---Captain William Kidd---

(1945)

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I know "The Compleate Gentleman Soldier" which has been linked here before has details on infantry drill, and is dated to 1703... but since I generally haven't been interested in artillery I have no recollection if it is discused in there or not. It would likely be worth your time to dig that up and check there. I'd help find the link, but searching with the pocket device is annoying to say the least

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Is this what you're looking for?

The Master Gunner Commands

Silence

Handle your rope spunge

Put your Spunge into your Gun

Take of your Apron

Stop your Vent with your Thumb

Put home the Spunge to the Breech

Turn it about thrice

Draw forth the Spunge. Keep it turning

Strike it on the Muzzle

Exchange the Spunge for the Rammer

Handle your Cartridge

Put it into the gun

Handle your Wadd

Put it into the Gun

Handle your Rammer

Put it into the Gun

Ram home Wadd and Cartridge

Give three strokes

Examine with your Priming Iron

Withdraw your Rammer

Handle your Shot

Strike it on the muzzle of the Gun

Put the Shot into the Gun

Handle your Wadd

Put it into the Gun

Ram home Wadd and Shot

Give too strokes

Draw forth your Rammer

Lay down your Rammer

Handle your Priming Iron

Prick or break your cartridge

Withdraw your Priming Iron

Handle your Powder Horn

Unstop your Powder Horn

Hold up your Horn

Prime your Gun, carrying the powder forward

Stop your Powder horn

Join your left hand to the small end

Bruise your Powder

Return your Horn

Cover the Priming with the Apron

Your Guns are now loaded, and ready to fire at Command. The Gunner says,

Man your Tackles

Handle your Crows and Hand Spikes

Hall up the Ports and Belay them

Run out your Guns

Lay the guns to pass in the Ports

Point straight

Point to Dismast

Point to Wind and Water [presumably either this command or the previous - Ed.]

Handle your Match

Blow your Match

Take of your Apron

See all things clear of the Reverse

Fire.

From Francis Povey, The Sea Gunner's Companion (London, 1702) pp. 43-44

Foxe

"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707


ETFox.co.uk

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Point to Dismast

Point to Wind and Water [presumably either this command or the previous - Ed.]

I can guess that "point to dismast" means aim for the mast, but what does "point to wind and water" mean? I'm embarrassingly under-researched for have a master gunner in my stories. :(

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Is this what you're looking for?

The Master Gunner Commands

Silence

Handle your rope spunge

Put your Spunge into your Gun

Take of your Apron

Stop your Vent with your Thumb

Put home the Spunge to the Breech

Turn it about thrice

Draw forth the Spunge. Keep it turning

Strike it on the Muzzle

Exchange the Spunge for the Rammer

Handle your Cartridge

Put it into the gun

Handle your Wadd

Put it into the Gun

Handle your Rammer

Put it into the Gun

Ram home Wadd and Cartridge

Give three strokes

Examine with your Priming Iron

Withdraw your Rammer

Handle your Shot

Strike it on the muzzle of the Gun

Put the Shot into the Gun

Handle your Wadd

Put it into the Gun

Ram home Wadd and Shot

Give too strokes

Draw forth your Rammer

Lay down your Rammer

Handle your Priming Iron

Prick or break your cartridge

Withdraw your Priming Iron

Handle your Powder Horn

Unstop your Powder Horn

Hold up your Horn

Prime your Gun, carrying the powder forward

Stop your Powder horn

Join your left hand to the small end

Bruise your Powder

Return your Horn

Cover the Priming with the Apron

Your Guns are now loaded, and ready to fire at Command. The Gunner says,

Man your Tackles

Handle your Crows and Hand Spikes

Hall up the Ports and Belay them

Run out your Guns

Lay the guns to pass in the Ports

Point straight

Point to Dismast

Point to Wind and Water [presumably either this command or the previous - Ed.]

Handle your Match

Blow your Match

Take of your Apron

See all things clear of the Reverse

Fire.

From Francis Povey, The Sea Gunner's Companion (London, 1702) pp. 43-44

Yes! That is precisely what I am looking for, Mr. Foxe! Is there any chance a .pdf could be found that illustrates these commands? Thank you for your help!

"Now then, me bullies! Would you rather do the gallows dance, and hang in chains 'til the crows pluck your eyes from your rotten skulls? Or would you feel the roll of a stout ship beneath your feet again?"

---Captain William Kidd---

(1945)

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Captain Rackham, thank you for your help, brother. I was hoping I could find an illustrated version of these commands which show the positions and movements of each command. Foxe nailed the info I was searching for on the head; now if I can just find illustrations of them. I was thinking that perhaps that book, being as old as it is, might be found in a downloadable form which would allow me to print just that chapter.

"Now then, me bullies! Would you rather do the gallows dance, and hang in chains 'til the crows pluck your eyes from your rotten skulls? Or would you feel the roll of a stout ship beneath your feet again?"

---Captain William Kidd---

(1945)

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The book only lists the command, no illustrations I'm afraid. Since each command is an action, as opposed to infantry drill in which many commands are postures, I don't know how much use illustrations would be. Half of them could use the same illustration of a guy with an unidentifiable gun tool down the barrel.

Most of the commands are pretty self-explanatory if you've ever fired a gun, or even just understand the principle.

Foxe

"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707


ETFox.co.uk

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Construction des vaisseaux du Roy, 1695

L'exercice du Canon. - [page 132]

Cannoniers prenez garde vous. Silence.

tapez vos Canons.

D' acute;marez vos Canons.

Prenez la Platine.

D"acute;couvrez la Lumiere.

Prenez la Sonde.

Mettez-lagrave; dans la Lumiere.

Crevez la Gargousse.

Hors la Sonde.

Passez-la; sur la main.

Prenez le Poulevrin.

Haut lePoulevrin.

D'acute;bouchez le avec les dents.

Emorsez.

Bouchez le Poulevrin.

Joignez la main gauche au Poulevrin.

Ecrasez la poudre.

Pendez le Poulevrin la ceinture.

Prenez la Platine.

Couvrez la Lumiere.

Prenez vos Pinces Anspects.

Canonniers pointez.

~ Pointez en avant.

Pointez en arriere. [Page R:133]

Pointez en belle.

Pointez agrave; d'acute;macircter.

Pointez agrave; couler bas.

Pointez agrave; l'horison.

Posez vos Pinces Anspects sur le pont.

Prenez le Boute-feu

Prenez la Platine.

Souflez la meacuteche.

Boutez le feu.

Piquez le Boute-feu sur le Pont.

Mettez la Platine sur le Canon.

Prenez l'Escofilon.

Passez le pied gauche par dessus les Palans Brague.

Mettez l'Escofilon dans le Canon.

Mettez le pouce sur la Lumiere.

Poussez l'Escofilon au fond du Canon.

Virez-le trois fois.

Hors l'Escofilon en virant.

Frapez-le sur la bouche du Canon.

Acourciss l'Escofilon.

Chargez s l'Escofilon.

Prenes la Gargousse.

Mord la Gargousse.

MettĀ  la grave; dans le Canon.

PrenĀ  le valet.

Mett le sur la Gargousse.

Mett le refouloir dans le Canon.

Pousse la Gargousse au fond du Canon. [Page R:134] Frape trois coups.

Sond eacute;s la Gargousse.

Hors le refouloir.

Pren la bale.

&Mett dans le Canon.

Pren le valet.

Mett sur la bale.

Mett le refouloir dans le Canon.

Pouss la bale sur la poudre.

Frap un coup.

Hors le refouloir.

pass le pied gauche par dessus les Palans Brague.

Change l'Escofilon.

Pose sur le Pont.

Prene la Platine.

Couvre la Lumiere.

Rangez-vous sur les Palans.

Pousse le Canon au Sabord.

FIN

Translation

Cannoneers take guard position. Silence.

Remove the Tampion from your Guns.

Unmoor your Guns.

Seize the Lock.

Uncover the Light (touch hole).

Take up the Probe. (priming wire)

Put it there in the touchhole.

Burst the Cartridge. (make a hole in the cartridge with the piming wire down through the touch hole)

Take out the Probe.

Place it there in the hand.

Take up the Powder horn.

Present the Powder horn.

Uncork it with the teeth.

Fill the measure.

Cork the Powder horn.

Place the Powder horn in the left hand.

Place the powder in the lock/touchhole.

Hang the Powder horn on the belt.

Close the Lock.

Cover the touch Hole

Present your Grips (Handspikes. )

Canonniers aim.

-Aim forward

- Aim aft [ Page R:133 ]

-Aim carefully.

-Aim for dismasting.

-Aim low.

-Aim even with the horizon.

Restore your Grips (Handspikes to the Deck.)

Prepare the linstock. (or)

Preparet the lock.

Blow on the slowmatch.

Light the linstock.

Put the Linstock on the deck.

Place the Lock on the Gun.

Present the Linstock

Move the left foot over the Hoists and Tackle.

Place the linstock in the Gun.(fire)

Place the thumb on the touchhole.

Shove the Ramrod Swab to the bottom of the Gun.

Swab it three times.

Remove It each time while swabbing.

Tap it on the mouth of the Gun.

Wipe the Swab.

Present Ramrod.

Present Cartridge.

Cut the Cartridge.

Place it in the Gun.

Present the servage (wadding.)

Mettes it on top of the Cartridge.

Put the rammer in the Gun.

Seat the Cartridge at the bottom of the Gun. [ Page R:134

Hit the cartrdige with three blows of the rammer

Sound the Cartridge. (feel for it to see if seated properly)

Remove the rammer.

Present the cannon ball.

Start it in the Gun.

Present the wad.

Start it atop the ball.

Start the rammer in the Gun.

Press the ball down on the powder.

Give it a blow.

Remove the Ramrod.

Move the left foot over the Hoists and Tackle.

Present Ramrod

Place it on the deck.

Present the Lock

Cover the touchhole.

Take up the Hoists.

Pull the Gun to the Gunport

END

found this here.. http://www.chesapeakepicaroons.org/DailyLife/weapons.html

interesting...

excerpt from the fifth edition of Construction des vaisseaux du Roy, 1695. [in French]

Edited by Capt. Sterling


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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I took them over here, giving direct link to this page and credits to both of you. Thank you very much, we have master gunners both French and English (pirates, privateers too) and it comes very handy.

BTMnewad.jpg
-A swashbuckling adventures RPG, set in 1720 in West Indies; winner of Distant Fantasies& RPG-D Member's Choice Award; RPG Conference's Originality Award; 2011 & 2012 Simming Prizes-

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Point to Dismast

Point to Wind and Water [presumably either this command or the previous - Ed.]

I can guess that "point to dismast" means aim for the mast, but what does "point to wind and water" mean? I'm embarrassingly under-researched for have a master gunner in my stories. ;)

"Point to wind and water" means to aim at the enemy ship's waterline, that is, to sink her.

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