Guns

Gun Locks: Flintlocks had been used on muskets and pistols since the early 1700s, but were not used by the army or navy for large guns during this period. The French navy experimented with gun locks as early as 1727: the British navy adopting a similar mechanism later in 1755 by Admiralty order of 21st October of that year. In 1760 when case shot was first supplied to the Navy, gun locks were also issued for the guns of the upper deck and quarterdeck. Captain Charles Douglas, commander of the 90 gun ship Duke in 1778, had such great confidence in the efficiency of the flintlock for firing guns that he equipped his ship with them out of his own purse. When Douglas became captain of Lord Rodney's flagship Formidable (90 guns) in April 1782, he demonstrated his superior rate of fire and hitting power in the victory over the French at the Battle of the Saints in the West Indies. Douglas's son, Major General Sir Howard Douglas, improved the gun lock system by introducing a double headed hammer to house the flint. This made it unnecessary to change flints frequently during action as this new form of hammer could be turned through 180 degrees to engage the second flint.

Brief description of the gunlock: The actual body of the gunlock is made of brass with a steel hammer and frizzen plate (priming pan cover). The lock was fitted to the right side of the vent patch by means of two bolts, which passed, through the transverse holes in the vent patch and secured by two butterfly- nuts. A steel trigger eye, to which was attached the trigger line (lanyard) and a wooden toggle, was fitted at the rear of the lock. The priming pan had a small hole on the left (the flash hole).

When the pan was primed, frizzen closed, the hammer with it's flint cocked and the lanyard pulled, the flint struck the frizzen causing a spark which lit the powder in the pan, (the priming) the flash passed through the flash hole straight to the entrance of the vent and ignited the head of the quill tube (explained later). It must be remembered that from the impact of the flint on the frizzen to the explosion of the cartridge only a split second elapsed if the gun was correctly primed.The lock pan was primed with small grained pistol powder, this was usually crushed with the butt end of the powder horn for better ignition.

Like musket and pistol locks, the great gun locks could be put to half-cock as a safety precaution when priming the gun. A first rate ship of the line like Victory could carry one hundred and eight cannon locks and approximately three thousand flints, about thirty per gun.

Sighting the gun: Iron guns are first cast in the solid and therefore have to be bored out. During the boring process the muzzle and centre of the breech are marked with engraved lines. The lines on top of the breech and muzzle are classified as the 'line of metal'(LM). The lines on either side of the muzzle and breech are the "centre of metal" (CM).

When the barrel is mounted on the carriage it is held in place by hinged brackets called capsquares which fit over the trunnions. These capsquares effectively prevent the breech and muzzle centre of metal notches being aligned for sighting purposes. To overcome this problem further notches (Q) are engraved slightly above the CM notches on both the muzzle and the breech. The breech notch is also the basis of the strip of engraved numbered notches These 13 notches mark divisions representing quarters of degrees from 0 to 3 degrees. These are called 'quarter sights'. To show this feature a portable piece of iron the 'dispart' sight is fitted on a flat piece of metal.
The gun captain used the breech LM and the dispart sight to lay the gun horizontal and thus demonstrate the correction factor when laying the gun on the target. As the barrel is tapered, lining up the notches LM-LM on top of the piece will give the correct direction to shoot, but will also give to the gun an elevation which could cause the shot to go over the target. Lining up the LM notches on the breech and the muzzle gave an elevation of one and a half degrees. The right or left quarter sights scale notches on the breech were lined up with the notch on the right or left side of the muzzle.
The CM sighting notch was on the right side of the breech only and was lined up with the CM notch on the muzzle.

Elevation for range: This could be achieved by the use of a wedge shaped piece of wood called a 'quoin'. This supports the breech on the carriage, the gun could be kept at the required elevation. This was achieved by pushing in the quoin to lower the muzzle or by pulling it out to raise the muzzle.
It was Admiral Lord Nelson's policy that the gunfire was to be aimed at the hull of an enemy ship so as to cause maximum damage to the guns and crews. He did not care for the idea of shooting at masts to cause damage prior to boarding.
To judge the elevation and achieve the range, the 'gun captain' used these simple aiming marks on the enemy ship:

Range approx. 1 mile (1.61 km) aim at the truck (top) of the main mast.
Range approx. ½ mile (0.81 km) aim at the fighting top.
Range approx. 400 yds (364 m) aim at the hull (Point Blank).

Description of loading and other tools: The tools used for servicing 32 pounder, and all other guns, were called side arms (not to be confused with small weapons).

Their names and uses are as follows:

Sponge

Rammer

Worm/Wadhook

Rope/Flexible Sponge

Vent Reamer/Bit

Sponge: Made of sheepskin and fitted to a wooden head by copper nails, the head was attached to a wooden stave. The stave was up to 11 ft. (3.35 m) long, minimum 9ft. (2.74 m) to allow it to project out of the barrel when being used. The sponge was kept damp with water from a bucket behind the gun and was used to extinguish any smouldering embers left from the cartridge bag which remained in the bore after firing. When sponging and loading, the vent was served by the gunner who sealed the vent using a thumb stall, and later a special vent plug. This was done when the sponge was pushed down the bore, the air in front of it had to flow past the sponge head as it reached the bottom of the bore. When the sponge was withdrawn a partial vacuum was created in front of it and subsequently, as there was no air, any remaining smouldering debris was extinguished through lack of oxygen. The gun was always sponged out after every firing.

Rammer: This was a flat headed wooden stave about 9ft. (2.74 m) long, used to load the cartridge, shot and wad by pushing them down the bore to the bottom. With the development of fused round shot, the end of the rammer was made concaved to fit over the fuse. This type of rammer can be seen on the Victory today.

Worm or wadhook: A corkscrew shaped double headed iron worm used after every fourth shot to take out the flannel cartridge bases which remained at the bottom of the bore after firing. If this was not done, the cartridge material would build up and in time cover the lower part of the vent hole where it enters the bore and prevent the pricking of the cartridge. It would also prevent the flash from the quill tube entering the cartridge. The worm was also used to extract the wad and the cartridge if the gun had to be unloaded. If guns were left loaded at sea for some time the cartridges were pulled out with the worm and examined to check if they were still serviceable ie not wet. The worm was sometimes called the searcher and was about 9ft (2.74 m) long.

Rope, or flexible sponge: This comprised a piece of stout rope about 9ft (2.74 m) long, fitted with a sponge head at one end and a rammer head at the other. It was used to load a gun when the weather was rough and the gun port lid was closed. Under these circumstances; i.e. the port lid closed, space available was confined and consequently it was impracticable to use the standard rammers and sponges mounted on staves. Also when enemy ships were close alongside in action, the rope sponge and rammer were used to avoid exposing the guns crew at the port opening to small arms fire.

Vent reamer or bit: This was a iron spike made from square section rod fashioned with a corkscrew twist at one end and a handle at the other . It was used to clear and clean the vent hole of carbon debris. The reamer was about 12 inches (30.5 cm) long.

Vent plug: Although not used at Trafalgar, this implement was used to serve (stop) the vent whilst sponging and loading. As the sponge was forced into the bore the compression would dislodge burning debris. Without the plug, the air forced down the bore by the sponge would rush out of the vent hole taking with it any smouldering embers there may be thus causing a fire hazard. No example of a vent plug survives, the earliest description of a vent plug dates from 1863, however their use is mentioned in the Naval Gun Drill Manual of 1817. Beforehand a leather thumb stall, or the bare thumb was used.

Vent pricker: A copper wire about 12 inches (30.5 cm) long with a point at one end and a handle at the other, used to prick the cartridge by pushing it right down the vent hole. Pricking the cartridge exposed the powder to ensure easy ignition from the flash of the quill tube. The pricker was also used to test if the cartridge had been rammed home. If no resistance was found when pushed fully into the vent hole, the order "ram again" was given to ensure that the cartridge was at the bottom of the bore.

Apron: Made from lead, these were used to cover the vent of the guns when they were not in use. As the guns were permanently loaded they prevented inadvertant ignition to the charge and also kept the damp out of the gun. Most were flat about 8 x 10 inches ((20.3 x 25.4 cm). Others were made with a hump to cover a gunlock. A first rate ship of the line carried 114 aprons.

Match Tub

Speaking Trumpet

Salt Box

Cases of Wood

Water Bucket

Powder Horn

Match tub: A small wooden keg, in the shape of a truncated cone, used to hold slow match. Slow match was always kept burning at the rear of the gun for use of igniting the gun in case of damage or failure of the gun lock. Specially manufactured from fine hemp, the match was then boiled in spirits of wine and a solution of saltpetre (charcoal). Slow matches burned at a rate of approximately one foot in three hours. All matches were lit from the lantern at the start of the action.

Lantern: In action the gun decks were filled with thick clouds of acrid smoke thus visibility was very poor. The lanterns were used for illumination, especially when priming the lock during battle.

Speaking trumpet: Officers in charge of several guns shouted their orders through this crude but effective megaphone made of copper. Pictures of the speaking trumpet can be seen in many paintings of the period.

Shot garlands: Used in addition to the racks by the hatchways, these comprised a circlet of rope laid flat on the deck which could hold one or two round shot ready for use.

Salt box: A wooden box big enough to hold two cartridges placed well behind the gun. To prevent accidental ignition of the charge from sparks, hinges and fitting were made of leather and copper respectively. Inside was a layer of salt which prevented the cartridges getting damp. The boxes were constantly filled by the 'powder monkeys'.

Cases of wood: A lightweight cylindrical wooden case made of poplar, fitted with an elm lid, a rope carrying strap, large enough to carry one cartridge. For safety, cartridges needed to be protected from inadvertant ignition or explosion while being conveyed from the magazines to the guns. References to cases of wood are made within the ship's Gunner's Store List of 1804 when the Victory was at sea. Sizes of the cases of wood varied according to the charge. In all there were approximately 240 held on board.

Wooden handspikes: Two handspikes were allocated to every pair of side guns (e.g. No. 2 gun larboard, and its opposite No. 2 gun starboard). Used to lever the breech so that the gun captain could move the quoin in or out to correct for elevation; they were also used to assist in training the gun and in running it in or out.

Water buckets: Placed at the rear of the gun, the water was used to dampen the sponge and also the deck swab for extinguishing embers on the deck as necessary. Although generally made of wood, leather was sometimes used.

Powder horn: A cow horn fitted with a spring loaded tip and a carrying cord. The large end was fitted with a wooden bung with a central filling hole, closed with a screwed wooden stopper. The horn was filled with small grain pistol powder and used for priming the pan of the gun lock.

Belt pouches: Generally carried by selected members of the gun crew; i.e. captain of the gun (No1), 2nd captain, (No. 2), and the primer (No. 11), these pouches contained, quill tubes, vent stoppers, gunlock flints and spare trigger lines. Made of leather these pouches often bore the initials G.R. (George Rex).

Side and train tackles: There were three identical tackles for each gun, two side tackles and a train tackle. Irrespective of use each comprised one double and one single block through which were roved the falls (ropes).

Their functions were as follows:

Side tackles: Fitted each side of the gun, one double block was hooked to the ring bolt fixed to the ship's side alongside the gunport and the single block rigged to the eye bolt on the side of the carriage cheek, just above the rear truck. These tackles were used to run the gun out from its reload/recoil position and to train it left or right when the captain of the gun was aiming at the target. Also used to stop the gun running back due to the heel of the ship.
Train tackle comprised one single block hooked to the eyebolt in the centre of the rear axle-tree and the double block hooked to a ring bolt in the deck as far inboard near the centreline of the ship. This tackle was used to stop the gun running out on its own due to the heel of the ship. It was also used to run the gun in if the slope of the deck made it necessary, or if no recoil when firing blanks/saluting charges. This made it possible for the muzzle to be inboard and clear of the gun port so that sponging and reloading could take place.

Quarter bolt: In addition to the ring bolts fitted either side of the gun ports to which the side tackles were normally hooked, there was another ring bolt on the ship's side between each gun position and shared by two guns, which enabled the extremes of training to right and left to be achieved.

Breeching rope: A stout rope of between 6.1/2 ins (16.5 cm) and 5 ins. (12.7 cm) circumference, depending on size of gun, used to restrain the recoil of the gun. Made to a length of 3 x length of the gun, after firing it permitted the muzzle to be a little inboard from the gun port to enable sponging and reloading to be carried out. The rope passed through the breeching loop (neck ring) on the cascable, then down through the ring bolts fitted each side of the carriage cheeks and then made securely fast to ring bolts fixed to the ship's side either side of the gun port. Ringbolts on the carriage cheeks were in use until about 1854. They were discontinued around 1854/1860. As these bolts appear in many earlier drawings and for many years later than 1805, Victory guns would originally have had ringbolts fitted on all the carriages.

Guns

Armament 1765

Ammunition

Guns

Carronade

The Grand Magazine