510 MACHETECHNICS. 



We proceed to give some farther ideas of Navitactics, under the 

 heads of Naval Armaments ; Naval Engagements ; and Manoeuvres 

 of Fleets. 



1. A Naval Armament, consists of vessels of war, fully armed, 

 manned, and equipped for active service: but the term armament, is 

 also applied to the guns of a single vessel. Vessels of war are 

 ranked according to the number of decks on which their guns are 

 carried. Those carrying guns on three or more decks, are called 

 ships of the line, or line of battle ships ; carrying usually 74, but 

 some of them 100, or even 120 guns. Those carrying guns on two 

 decks, are called frigates ; if of 44 guns or more, frigates of the 

 first class ; but if of smaller armament, frigates of the second class. 

 Vessels carrying guns on one deck only, but ship-rigged, are called 

 sloops of war, or corvettes ; and carry usually 18, 20, or 24 guns. 

 Other vessels, chiefly of still inferior force, receive their appellation 

 merely from their rig and build, as brigs, schooners, and cutters. 

 Among the principal officers of a vessel of war, are the captain, 

 lieutenants, midshipmen, sailing master, quarter masters, boatswain, 

 carpenter, and sailmaker ; besides the chaplain, surgeon, purser, and 

 captain's clerk. 



The uppermost deck of all vessels of war, is called the spar-deck. 

 When there is another deck carrying guns, it is called the gun-deck'; 

 and if there are two others, they are distinguished as the upper and 

 lower gun-decks. Next below the gun-decks is the orlop-deck, or 

 orlop ; and below this are the hold, for stowing spare rigging and 

 provisions ; and the magazine, for storing powder, which lies en- 

 tirely below the surface or level of the water. Ships recently built, 

 have an arrangement for drowning the magazine ; or filling it with 

 water from below, to prevent the powder from exploding, but with- 

 out admitting the water into the rest of the vessel. The guns, 

 usually 42, 32, 24, and 18 pounders, long guns and carronades, are 

 mounted on carriages resembling those for garrison guns, running on 

 trucks or small wheels ; and their recoil is limited by a strong rope 

 attached to the side of the ship. The officers are quartered aft, and 

 the men forward, on the gun-decks ; the upper one in preference. 



The dimensions of ships of war have been materially increased, 

 in recent times. A ship of 120 guns is about 210 feet long on the 

 lower gun deck, and has a breadth of beam of about 58 feet, and a 

 depth in hold of about 33 feet ; the extreme length being about 230 

 feet, and the burthen about 3200 tons. A ship of 74 guns, is about 

 196 feet long, and 54 broad, and of about 2600 tons burthen. A 

 frigate of 44 guns, is about 179 feet long, 47 broad, and of about 

 1600 tons burthen ; but a sloop of war, of 24 guns, is about 132 feet 

 long, 36 broad, and has a burthen of about 900 tons. A ship of the 

 line, draws at least 24 feet of water; a frigate of 44 guns, 22 feet; 

 and a sloop of 24 guns, draws 16 feet of water. A ship of 120 

 guns, requires a crew of about 900 sailors and gunners, besides ma- 

 rines ; a 74 gun ship, requires 650 ; a 44 gun frigate, about 300 ; 

 and an 18 gun sloop of war, requires about 125 men, besides ma- 

 rines ; these latter being soldiers, designed to act as a guard, and to 

 assist in close combat, especially in boarding. The usual coinple- 



