Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 Part 23

I. In case of meeting with a squadron of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps that may be less in number than the squadron under my command, if I would have any of the smaller s.h.i.+ps quit the line, that those of the greatest force may be opposed to the enemy, I will put abroad the signal for speaking with the captains of such s.h.i.+ps as I would have leave the line, and hoist a flag, striped yellow and white, at the flagstaff at the main topmast-head; then the next s.h.i.+ps are to close the line, and those that have quitted it are to hold themselves in readiness to a.s.sist any s.h.i.+p that may be disabled, or hard pressed, or to take her station, if she is obliged to go out of the line: in which case, the strongest s.h.i.+p that is withdrawn from the line is strictly enjoined to supply her place, and fill up the vacancy.

II. And in case of meeting with any squadron, or s.h.i.+ps of war of the enemy that have merchant-men under their convoy, though the signal for the line of battle should be out, if I would have any of the frigates that are out of the line, or any s.h.i.+p of the line fall upon the convoy, whilst the others are engaged, I will put abroad the pennant for speaking with the captain of such s.h.i.+p or s.h.i.+ps, and hoist the flag above mentioned for quitting the line, with a pennant under it; upon which signal, such s.h.i.+p or s.h.i.+ps are to use their utmost endeavours to take or destroy the enemy.

III. If at any time while we are engaged with the enemy, the admiral shall judge it proper to come to a closer engagement than at the distance we then are, he will hoist a red and white flag on the flagstaff at the main topmast-head, and fire a gun. Then every s.h.i.+p is to engage the enemy at the same distance the admiral does; and if the admiral would have any particular s.h.i.+p do so, he will make the same signal, and the signal for speaking with the captain.

IV.[2] When I would have the two divisions of the fleet form themselves into a separate line of battle, one s.h.i.+p ahead of another at the distance of a cable's length asunder, and each division to be abreast of the other, when formed at the distance of one cable's length and a half, I will hoist a flag chequered blue and yellow at the mizen peak, and fire a gun, and then every s.h.i.+p is to get into her station accordingly,

*V.[3] When I would have the fleet spread in a line abreast, each s.h.i.+p keeping at the distance of one mile from the other, I will hoist a flag chequered blue and yellow, on the flagstaff at the mizen top-mast-head, and fire a gun.

*VI. When I would have the s.h.i.+ps spread in a line directly ahead of each other, and keep at the distance of a mile asunder, I will hoist a flag chequered red and white at the mizen peak, and fire a gun.

*VII. And when the signal is made for the s.h.i.+ps to spread either abreast or ahead of one another, and I would have them keep at the distance of two miles asunder, I will hoist a pennant under the fore-mentioned flags: then every s.h.i.+p is to make sail, and get into her station accordingly.

VIII. If I should meet with a squadron of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps of war inferior in number to the s.h.i.+ps under my command, those s.h.i.+ps of my squadron (above the number of the enemy) that happen to fall in either ahead of the enemy's van or astern of his rear, while the rest of the s.h.i.+ps are engaged, are hereby required, and directed to quit the line without waiting for the signal, and to distress the enemy by raking the s.h.i.+ps in the van and rear, notwithstanding the first part of the twenty-fourth article of the Fighting Instructions to the contrary.

IX. And if I should chase with the whole squadron, and would have a certain number of the s.h.i.+ps that are nearest the enemy draw into a line of battle ahead of me, in order to engage till the rest of the s.h.i.+ps of the squadron can come up with them, I will hoist a white flag with a red cross on the flagstaff at the main topmast-head, and fire the number of guns as follows:--

When I would have five s.h.i.+ps draw into a line of battle, ahead of each other, I will fire one gun.

When I would have seven s.h.i.+ps draw into a line of battle, ahead of each other, I will fire three guns.

X. Then those s.h.i.+ps are immediately to form the line without any regard to seniority or the general form delivered, but according to their distances from the enemy, viz., The headmost and nearest s.h.i.+p to the enemy is to lead, and the sternmost to bring up the rear, that no time may be lost in the pursuit; and all the rest of the s.h.i.+ps are to form and strengthen that line, as soon as they can come up with them, without any regard to my general form of the order of battle.

XI. Whereas every s.h.i.+p is directed (when sailing in a line of battle) to keep the same distances those s.h.i.+ps do who are nearest the admiral, always taking it from the centre: if at any time I think the s.h.i.+p ahead of me is [at] too great a distance, I will make it known to him by putting abroad a pennant at the jib-boom end, and keep it flying till he is in his proper station: and if he finds the s.h.i.+p ahead of him is at a greater distance from him than he is from the [4]-----(or such s.h.i.+p as my flag shall be flying on board of), he shall make the same signal at his jib-boom end, and keep it flying till he thinks that s.h.i.+p is at a proper distance, and so on to the van of the line.

XII. And when I think the s.h.i.+p astern of me is at too great a distance, I will make it known to him by putting abroad a pennant at the cross-jack yard-arm, and keep it flying till he is in his station: and if he finds the s.h.i.+p astern of him is at a greater distance than he is from the ---- (or such s.h.i.+p as my flag shall be flying aboard of) he shall make the same signal at the cross-jack yard-arm, and keep it flying till he thinks that the s.h.i.+p is at a proper distance, and so on to the rear of the line.

XIII. And if at any time the captain of any particular s.h.i.+p in the line thinks the s.h.i.+p without him is at a greater distance than those s.h.i.+ps who are next the centre, he shall make the above signal: and then that s.h.i.+p is immediately to close, and get into his proper station.

XIV.[5] When the signal is made for the squadron to draw into a line of battle, one s.h.i.+p ahead of another, by hoisting a union flag at the mizen peak and firing a gun, every s.h.i.+p is to make all the sail he can into his station, and keep at the distance of half a cable's length from each other: If I would have them to be a cable's length asunder, I will hoist a blue flag, with a red cross under the union flag at the mizen peak and fire a gun: and if two cables' length asunder, a white and blue flag under the union flag at the mizen peak, and fire a gun: but when I would have the squadron draw into a line of battle, one s.h.i.+p abreast of another, and keep at those distances as above directed, I will hoist a pennant under the said flags at the mizen peak.

XV.[6] When sailing in a line of battle, one s.h.i.+p ahead of another, and I would have the s.h.i.+p who leads to alter her course and lead more to starboard, I will hoist a flag striped white and blue at the fore topmast-head, and fire a gun for every point of the compa.s.s I would have the course altered.

XVI.[6] And if I would have the s.h.i.+p that leads to alter her course and lead more to port, I will hoist a flag striped blue and white on the flagstaff at the mizen topmast-head, and fire a gun for every point of the compa.s.s I would have the course altered, and every s.h.i.+p in the squadron is to get into her wake as fast as possible.

XVII.[7] When I would have all the fires.h.i.+ps to prime, I will hoist a chequered blue and yellow pennant at the mizen topmast-head.

*XVIII.[8] Notwithstanding the general printed Fighting Instructions, if at any time, when engaged with an equal number of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps, and the s.h.i.+p opposed to any of his majesty's s.h.i.+ps is forced out of the line, you are hereby required and directed to pursue her, and endeavour to take and destroy her.

_Memorandum_.--When the squadron is in a line of battle ahead, and the signal is made for the headmost and weathermost to tack, the s.h.i.+p that leads on the former tack is to continue to lead after tacking.[9]

*XIX.[10] When I would have the s.h.i.+p or s.h.i.+ps that chase bring down their chase to me, I will hoist a blue flag pierced with white on the fore topgallant mast, not on the flagstaff.

*XX.[10] When I find it necessary to have the state and condition of the s.h.i.+ps in the squadron sent on board me, I will make the signal for all lieutenants, and hoist a blue and white flag at the mizen peak and fire a gun. If for the state and condition of a particular s.h.i.+p, I make the signal for the lieutenant of that s.h.i.+p, with the flag at the mizen peak.

Given under my hand on board his majesty's s.h.i.+p Namur, in Gibraltar Bay, this 27 April, 1759.

E. BOSCAWEN (autograph).

To Capt. Medows, of his majesty's s.h.i.+p Shannon.

By command of the admiral ALEX. MACPHERSON (autograph).

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The articles marked with an asterisk are additions subsequent to and not appearing in the earlier _Admiralty MS._ 252/24, 'Additional Fighting Instructions by Day' (see p. 108).

[2] In the earlier _Admiralty MS._ this article is numbered VII. and begins 'If the fleet should happen to be in two divisions and I would have them form,' &c.

[3] Used by Lord Anson in 1747. See _supra_, p. 209.

[4] The earlier _Admiralty MS._ has simply 'the s.h.i.+p my flag shall be aboard of.'

[5] Article IV, in the earlier _Admiralty MS_. It is practically identical except that it has 'she' and 'her' throughout where s.h.i.+ps are spoken of, and a few other verbal differences.

[6] Articles V. and VI. in the earlier _Admiralty MS_.

[7] The equivalent of Article XIV. in the earlier _Admiralty MS_.

which reads thus, 'When I would have the fires.h.i.+ps to prime I will hoist a pennant striped red and white on the flagstaff at the fore topmast-head and fire a gun, but in case we are at any time in chase of the enemy's fleet, the fires.h.i.+ps are to prime as fast as possible whether the signal be made or not.' The _Admiralty MS_. ends here with another article relating to fires.h.i.+ps (No. XV.): 'You are to hold his majesty's s.h.i.+p under your command in a constant readiness for action, and in case of coming to an engagement with the enemy, if they have the wind of us, to keep your barge manned and armed with hand and fire-chain grapnels on the offside from them, to be ready to a.s.sist as well any s.h.i.+p that may be attempted by the fires.h.i.+ps of the enemy, as our own fires.h.i.+ps when they shall be ordered upon service.' This article disappears from subsequent sets, and was perhaps incorporated into the 'General Instructions to Captains' to which it more properly belongs.

The MS. also contains 'Night Signals' and private signals for knowing detached s.h.i.+ps rejoining at night.

[8] Whoever was the author of this article, it was generally regarded as too risky and subsequently disappeared. The article of the 'printed Fighting Instructions' referred to is No. XXI.

[9] This memorandum, which concludes the printed portion, must have been added in view of the misconception which occurred in Knowles's action of 1748.

[10] MS. additions by Boscawen.

_SIR GEORGE RODNEY_, 1782.[1]

[+MS. Signal Book in the Admiralty Library+.]

1. Line ahead at one cable.

2. Line abreast at one cable.

3. Quarter lines on various compa.s.s bearings.

4. When in line ahead to alter course to starboard or port together--one gun for every point.[2]

5. The same when in line abreast.[2]

6. To form order of sailing.[3]

7. When in line of battle for the whole fleet to tack together.

8. When in line of battle for the next s.h.i.+p ahead or on the starboard beam, which is at too great a distance, to close.

9. The same for the next astern or on the larboard beam.

10. (_Undetermined_.) 11. The fleet to form in two separate lines ahead at one cable's distance, each division abreast of the other at two cables'

distance.[4]

12. (?) Particular s.h.i.+ps to come under the admiral's stern without hail.[5]

13. s.h.i.+ps to change stations in the line of battle.

14. When in chase for the headmost s.h.i.+p to engage the sternmost of the enemy, and the next s.h.i.+p to pa.s.s, under cover of her fire, and take the s.h.i.+p next ahead, and so on in succession, without respect to seniority or the prescribed order of battle. To engage to windward or leeward as directed by signal.[6]

15. The whole fleet being in chase, for some of the headmost s.h.i.+ps to draw into line of battle and engage the enemy's rear, at the same time endeavouring to get up with their van. _Note_.--These s.h.i.+ps to form without any regard to seniority or the order of battle. The s.h.i.+p nearest the enemy is to lead and the sternmost to bring up the rear. _Signal_.--Red flag with white cross at main topmast-head with one gun for five s.h.i.+ps, and three for seven.[7]

16. When turning to windward in line of battle for the leading s.h.i.+p to make known when she can weather the enemy. To be repeated from s.h.i.+p to s.h.i.+p to the commander-in-chief. If he should stand on till the sternmost s.h.i.+p can weather them, she is to make it known by hoisting a common pennant at the fore topgallant mast-head; to be repeated as before. The sternmost s.h.i.+p is likewise to do so whenever the squadron shall be to windward of the enemy, and her commander shall judge himself far enough astern of their rear to lead down out of their line of fire.