EXERCISE OF THE GUNS from "A Treatise on Naval Gunnery"
Observations
The Captains of guns command, and point. They are placed behind the breech. The
men, equally divided, are placed each side, and in the following exercise are called
right hand men and left hand men. The first man on the right spunges and rams down
the cartridge. The first man on the left loads, receiving the cartridge from the powder
man, who fetches it during the action, placing himself behind the man who loads,
holding the cartridge box carefully covered.
The last or rear man on the right, is provided with a small apron, having a pocket to
hold spare flints, and some old linen for cleaning the lock.
On board line of battle ships, frigates, and sloops of war, two gunners mates in each
battery will be provided with bags, containing a stock and bits, four gimlets, one
screw diver, two spare locks, spare line for trigger pulls, and some old linen for
cleaning the locks.
On board brigs and vessels carrying less than ten guns, one gunner carrying a bag thus
provided will sufficient.
122. As the guns ought always to be loaded when the ships are out of harbour, the
exercise begins according to this supposition. Upon the general command to repair to
quarters being given, the powder men proceed, in conformity with previous
instructions, to the gunners store to fetch the powder horns, tube and cartridge boxes
&c. The last two men on the right fetch the locks, and every article with which they
ought to be provided. The other men repair to their respective guns; dispose every
implement ready for action; cast loose the guns, and remove every obstacle that might
impede their manoeuvre. The train tackles are hooked to the cruppers of the carriages,
and the ring bolts in the rear.
Through the whole exercise for instruction, the commanding officer explains, after
each word of command, the number of motions in which each the manoeuvre is to be
done. The men listen with attention, and do not begin to execute the intended
manoeuvre until the word action is given.
Upon the signal being given that the exercise is to commence, the greatest silence
must be observed. The captain of each gun faces to the port hole, the men on the right
and left face to their guns, dressing by the first two men, and closing to the ships side;
heads up, eyes fixed on the captain of the gun, the body upright, arms hanging down,
hands open, and flat upon the thighs.
FIRST COMMAND.
123. take out your tompions, cast loose your guns.
The 1st man on the right takes out the tompion, and places it behind him, close against
the ships side. The captain of the gun, with the assistance of the men near him, casts
loose the gun, secures it against the ships side by hitching to the cascable both tackle
falls, which he gives to the 2nd men right and left to hold; he then takes of the vent
apron and hands to the 3rd man on the right, who places it against the ships side.
Action
SECOND COMAND.
124. prime your guns. (in one motion)
The captain of the gun lays hold of the priming wire with his right hand, pieces the
cartridge, and ascertains, by moving his wrist, and by the length of the wire, whether
the cartridge is home or not; he then takes a tube out of the tube box (which he shuts
quickly) tears the cap of the tube, and introduces into the vent. He then takes the
priming horn in his right hand, opens the pan on the lock with his left, fills it with
powder, shuts it quickly, and replaces the priming horn behind him. Action.
THIRD COMMAND.
125. Point your guns. (in three motions)
1st Motion. – The captain of the gun places himself to the right of the train tackle, his
left advanced and flat to the deck, the knee bent, his right leg stretched backwards, his
left hand upon the base ring of the gun, and his right hand on the handle of the
pointing wedge or quoin. The 3rd man, assisted by the 4th for heavy guns, takes up the
hand spike and the iron crows, places them upon the steps of the carriage to raise or
lower the breech, as the captain of the gun may direct, until the gun have a proper
degree of elevation.
2nd Motion – The same men then place the handspikes and crows under the cheeks of
the carriage, to traverse the gun to the right or left, loosening the tackle falls, and
handing them to the me placed nearest to them, who with the assistance of those who
are not employed in pointing or traversing, keep the gun hauled tight to the port. The
captain of the gun then cocks the lock, takes hold of the trigger line in his right hand,
and falls back quickly, beyond the recoil of the gun. He points, stooping and placing
his eye in a line with the chace sight and the breech ring. Action.
3rd Motion – The gun being pointed, the captain gives the command – To your posts.
Upon which the men withdraw the handspikes and crows, and fall in holding them
upright, so that the trucks may not run over them when the gun recoils. Action.
FOUTH COMMAND.
126. Make ready with the lint stock (in one motion)
The rear man on the left lays hold of the lower end of the lint stock with his right
hand, and of the top with his left, places himself on a line with the hind axle tree,
facing the port hole, stoops, in order to blow on the match, then holds it within four
inches of the base ring of the gun, ready to fire the moment the captain orf the gun
gives the word, if the lock should fail. Action.
FIFTH COMMAND.
127. Fire (in two motions)
1st motion – if the pointing of the gun with respect to line is correct, the captain
watches for the favourable time to fire – the moment it offers, he makes it known by a
signal; and pulls with a jerk, the trigger line. If the gun should not go off, and he
thinks the direction is still good, he will give the command fire, the moment the roll of
the ship allows.
Upon this the man sets fire to the tube with the lint stock, holding it so as to
not to be higher than the vent; he withdraws it quickly, and refixes it in its place the
moment the gun has gone off.
Upon the signal to fire, the men who have hold of the tackle falls let them go,
taking care that they are not in the direction of the trucks. The men holding the
handspikes and crows lay them on the deck. Every man, except the first right and left,
move quickly to the train tackle, hook it on the crupper, and haul upon it if the gun
should not have run in sufficiently. The first man on the right lays hold of the iron
crow by the claw end, the block the trucks, as soon as the gun is clear of the port hole-
the same man, together with first on the left, clears the tackle falls and breeching; and
the last man on the left fastens the train tackle fall with a clove hitch. Action.
2nd Motion – The 3rd man right and left, with the assistance of the 4th for heavy guns,
lay hold of the handspikes and crows, place them under the breech, and heave it
according as they are directed by the captain of the gun, who adjusts the bed and
quoin so as to replace the gun in a position convenient for being loaded. The other
men clear the side and train tackle falls. The handspike is put back into its place, the
crow laid across the truck, and every man falls into place. Action.
SIXTH COMMAND.
128. Stop the Vent, Spunge your Guns, (In two motions)
1st Motion – The captain of the gun takes the priming wire in his right hand, and
enters it into the vent to ascertain if it be clear, he then stops it with his thumb of his
left hand until the gun be loaded. The first man on the right places himself by the
muzzle, stepping over the tackles and breeching, and the second man hands him the
spunge, which he immediately rams down to the bottom of the cylinder. Action.
2nd Motion – The 1st man on the right having rammed down the spunge to the bottom
of the bore, twists it around several times; and as using the worm, draws it out, still
tuning it in the same direction; he then lays it on the muzzle, and strikes it three or
four times to shake of any remains of the cartridge or foulness.
The captain of the gun introduces the priming wire into the vent, to ascertain
that is clear, and then he stops it; the last man on the right cleans, in the mean time,
the lock, half cocks it, and falls back to his post.
SEVENTH COMMAND.
129. Prepare to load (in one motion)
The 1st man returns the spunge to the 2nd and received from him the rammer, the head
of which he rests on the carriage, holding the handle with both hands. With light guns
the spunge stave is turned, as the spunge and rammer are upon the same handle.
Action.
EIGHTH COMMAND.
130. Load with Cartridge. (in one motion)
The 1st man on the left faces to the left, to receive from the powder man, the cartridge,
which must be carefully put in with the bottom first, and the seam downwards. The
2nd man takes a wad, hands it to the first, who places it over the cartridge.
The 1st man on the right stretches out his right arm at full length, resting his
left hand on the muzzle of the gun, hid body inclined a little forward, ready to ram
down. The moment the provider has delivered his cartridge, he goes for another,
holding the cartridge box under his left arm, and his right hand on the lid. Action.
NINTH COMMAND.
131. Ram Down Cartridge (in one motion)
The 1st man on the right rams down three times, then lets go the rammer, drawing
back his body. The captain of the gun introduces the priming wire into the vent to
ascertain if the cartridge be home; if it not, he gives the command to ram down a
second time. When he fids all right, he gives a signal with his hand, upon which the
man draws out the rammer, and places the head of it on the forepart of the carriage as
before. In the mean time, the 2nd man takes up a shot, which he hands to the 1st man,
and immediately afterwards a wad. Action.
TENTH COMMAND.
132. Shot and wad your gun. (one motion)
The 1st man on the left puts the shot into the gun, and to prevent it falling out, places
his right hand upon the muzzle; with his left hand he takes the wad, which is handed
to him by the second man, and places it over the shot. The 1st man on the right then
thrusts them down with the rammer, and ascertaining by the length of the handle that
they are home, informs the captain of the gun of it; then stretching his right arm at full
length, rests his left hand on the muzzle of the gun, and inclines his body forward,
ready to ram down. The 1st and 2nd men on the left fall back to their posts. Action.
ELEVENTH COMMAND.
133. Ram down shot. (in one motion)
The 1st man on the right rams down twice, draws out the rammer, and delivers it to
the 2nd man who lays it on the deck. If it is a light gun, he turns the stave. The 1st and
2nd man fall back to their posts. Action.
TWELFTH COMMAND.
134. Run out your guns. (in two motions)
1st Motion – The 1st man on the right unblocks the trucks, by removing the iron crow,
and puts it back in its place; the, with the 1st man on the left, lifts the breeching to
prevent it getting foul during the operation. The rear man on the left loosens the clove
hitch on the train tackle, keeping hold of the fall, to slacken it as the gun is run out.
All other men lay hold of the side tackles. Action.
2nd motion – the captain of the gun gives the command heave. The men all pull
together to run out the gun square to the breast of the port; which being done, the
captain takes care to secure it, by taking a turn of the tackle falls round the neck of the
cascable, giving the ends to the 2nd man on each side to hold on. Action.
N.B. If the exercise is to be continued, it will be resumed from the second command,
art 124; if not, it will be concluded by the following command.
THIRTENTH COMMAND.
135. Put in your Tompions. Secure your Guns. (In two motions)
1st Motion – the 3rd man on the right hands the vent apron to the captain of the gun,
who lashes it on the breech, and the loosens the tackle falls, and gives them to the rear
men to hold. He then places the slack of the breeching, which is held up by the 2nd
man on each side, between the cheeks of the carriage, and orders the men to haul
taught the side tackles, which he fastens with a clove hitch round the neck of the
cascable. Action.
2nd Motion – the first man on the right puts the tompion into the muzzle of the gun;
the other men coil up the tackle falls, fasten the coils neatly to the cheeks of the
carriage, and pit every implement in its proper place. The rear man on the left
unhooks the train tackle, and lays it on the gun. The powder man carries back the
priming horn, tube, and cartridge boxes to the gunners store. The rear man on the right
carries back the bag apron, with spare flints, &c. and the lock, unless special
instructions be given to leave it fixed. Action

Taken from: A Treatise on Naval Gunnery by: Howard Douglas. Second Edition 1829.

Ниже приведено несколько иллюстраций из книги: Brian Lavery, “NELSON’S NAVY: The Ships, Men and Organisation 1793 – 1815”. Качество, пардон, не ахти какое, но разобрать можно.
















А ниже бонус для любителей холодного оружия из той же книжки.











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