From: Mcg339@aol.com
Message-ID: <6d0e6594.24e46e7a@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 14:37:46 EDT
Subject: More on ship-to-ship combat


Basic Ship combat procedures (in no particular order)

1) beat to quarters (the crew on-watch drums their fists/hands on the deck 
and rails to wake the entire ship)

2) wet the sails... it slows the ship by a teenie little biscuit, but it 
keeps them from burning easily.

3) man the pumps!  make sure that you have enough landsmen at the pumps to 
make minimum work... why landsmen, you ask? because they are the least 
capable sailors and probably the most capable swimmers!

4) man the sails! it takes 6-10 men to set a sail, but in combat, you are 
setting several sails at every turn. Make sure that you can set all of your 
sails in a minute or so every time, or else your opponent will gain the 
advantage on you.

5) man the cannons! make sure that you have enough crew to control your 
cannons 4 men for a 3 pound, 5 men for a 6 pound, 6 men for a 9 pound, etc! 
If you don't have enough men to work an entire broadside, make sure that you 
have at least enough to operate and load a few continuously. remember that if 
are short crews and you have only one good loading crew... don't put a good 
gunner with them; he's wasted there. Put your good gun captains with training 
crews and keep the loaders loading!

6) when in close combat, REEF YOUR SAILS! you get less speed, but you still 
have full press of sail... you ship still heels and rolls like you have all 
of your sail showing, but you have the low speed to make tight turns. You are 
more maneuverable.

7) pass orders down! have the captain (or quartermaster) give orders to the 
helm, gunners, and bosun and have them repeat/organize the orders. The 
captain cannot micromanage the entire ship and has to keep his eye on the 
'big picture'

8) arm the crew! don't pass muskets out unless you have a gun line or snipers 
in the rigging... but at the same time, make sure that you are capable of 
repelling boarders! pass out boarding axes and cutlasses to the entire 
fighting crew.

9) before combat, TRAIN! know what to do and when! Also, have your combat 
crew dispositions already worked out (who will be where, doing what during 
the fight).

10) know when to give up! don't fight to the bitter end, you WILL die of this 
if you do it. Accept surrenders and terms when offered, especially from an 
honorable foe (never trust other pirates).

More to come... feel free to ask questions as you get them... 

hopefully tonite I will have time to draw up a few diagrams to attach to a 
post, to make it easier to explain maneuvering.

Todd