distinguished by a particular flag or pendant, and usually commanded by
a general officer. A squadron is commonly ranged into three divisions,
the commanding officer of which is always stationed in the center.
When a fleet consists of sixty sail of the _line_, that is, of ships
having at least sixty cannon, the admiral divides it into three
squadrons, each of which has its divisions and commanding officers. Each
squadron has its proper colours, according to the rank of the admiral
who commands it, and every division its proper mast. Thus, the white
flag denotes the first squadron of France; the white and blue the
second, and the third is characterised by the blue. In England, the
first admiral, or the admiral of the fleet, displays the union flag at
the main-top-mast-head; next follows the white flag with St. George’s
cross; and afterwards the blue. The private ships carry pendants of the
same colour with their respective squadron, at the masts of their
particular divisions; so that the last ship in the division of the blue
squadron carries a blue pendant at her mizen-top-mast-head.
DOCK, _forme_, (imagined of δοχεῖον) a sort of broad and deep trench,
formed on the side of a harbour, or on the banks of a river; and
commodiously fitted either to build ships, or receive them to be
repaired and _breamed_ therein. These sorts of docks have generally
strong flood-gates, to prevent the flux of the tide from entering the
dock while the ship is under repair.
There are likewise docks of another kind, called wet-docks, where a ship
can only be cleaned during the recess of the tide, or in the interval
between the time when the tide left her dry a-ground, and the period
when it again reaches her by the return of the flood. Docks of the
latter kind are not furnished with the usual flood-gates.
DOCKING _a ship_, the act of drawing her into the dock, in order to give
her a proper repair, and cleanse the bottom, and cover it anew with a
preparation of stuff, as explained in the article BREAMING.
DOCK-YARDS, _arcenaux_, certain magazines containing all sorts of naval
stores, and timber for ship-building. In England, the royal dock-yards
are at Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Deptford, Woolwich, and Sheerness.
His majesty’s ships and vessels of war are generally moored at these
ports, during the time of peace; and such as want repairing are taken
into the docks, examined, and refitted for service. See the article
REPAIR.
The principal dock-yards are governed by a commissioner, resident at the
port, who superintends all the musters of the officers, artificers, and
labourers, employed in the dock-yard, and ordinary. He also controls
their payment therein; examines the accounts; contracts, and draws bills
on the Navy-office to supply the deficiency of stores; and, finally,
regulates whatever belongs to the dock-yard, maintaining due order in
the respective offices.
These yards are generally supplied from the northern crowns with hemp,
pitch, tar, rosin, canvas, oak plank, and several other species. With
regard to the masts, particularly those of the largest size, they are
usually imported from New-England.
DOG, a sort of iron hook, or bar, with a sharp fang at one end, so
formed as to be easily driven into a plank: it is used to drag along the
planks of oak when they are let into a hole under the stern of a ship,
to be stowed in the _hold_. For this purpose there is a rope fastened to
the end of the dog, upon which several men pull, to draw the plank
towards the place where it is to be stowed. It is also used for the same
purpose in unlading the ship.
DOGGER, _dogre-bot_, a Dutch fishing-vessel navigated in the German
ocean. It is generally employed in the herring fishery, being equipped
with two masts, viz. a main-mast and a mizen-mast, and somewhat
resembling _a ketch_.
DOLPHIN _of the mast_ a peculiar kind of wreath, formed of platted
cordage, to be fastened occasionally round the masts, as a support to
the _puddening_, whose use is to sustain the weight of the fore and
main-yards, in case the rigging, or chains, by which those yards are
suspended, should be shot away in the time of battle; a circumstance
which might render their sails useless at a season when their assistance
is extremely necessary. See the article PUDDENING.
DOUBLING, in navigation, (_doubler_, Fr.) the act of sailing round, or
passing beyond a cape or promontory, so as that the cape or point of
land separates the ship from her former situation, or lies between her
and any distant observer.
DOUBLING-NAILS, amongst shipwrights, the nails commonly used to fasten
the lining of the gun-ports, &c.
DOUBLING-UPON, in a naval engagement, the act of enclosing any part of a
hostile fleet between two fires, or of cannonading it on both sides.
It is usually performed by the van or rear of that fleet which is
superior in number, taking the advantage of the wind, or of its
situation and circumstances, and tacking or veering round the van or
rear of the enemy, who will thereby be exposed to great danger, and can
scarcely avoid being thrown into a general confusion.
_To_ DOUSE, _molir_, to lower suddenly or slacken: expressed of a sail
in a squall of wind, an extended hawser, &c.
DOWN-HAWL, _calebas_, a rope passing up along a stay through the rings
of the stay-sail, and tied to the upper-corner of the sail, to pull it
down, when they are _shortening_ sail.
DOWN-HAUL-TACKLE, a complication of pullies, employed to pull down the
main or fore-yard in a tempest, in order to reef the sail. It is used at
this time, because the violence of the wind prevents the weight of the
yard from having its natural effect, of descending, when the ropes by
which it is suspended are slackened.
DRABLER, an additional part of a sail, sometimes laced to the bottom of
the _bonnet_ of a _square-sail_, in sloops and schooners.
DRAG, a machine consisting of a sharp square iron ring encircled with a
net, and commonly used to rake the mud off from the platform or bottom
of the docks. See plate II. fig. 35.
DRAGGING _the anchor_, the act of trailing it along the bottom, after it
is loosened from the ground, by the effort of the wind or current upon
the ship, communicated to the cable. See the article ANCHOR.
DRAUGHT, the depth of a body of water necessary to float a ship; hence a
ship is said to draw so many feet of water, when she is borne up by a
column of water of that particular depth. Thus, if it requires a body of
water whose depth is equal to twelve feet, to float or buoy up a ship on
its surface, she is said to draw twelve feet water; and that this
draught may be more readily known, the feet are marked on the stem and
stern-post, regularly from the keel upwards.
DRESSING, (_faire la parade_), the act of ornamenting a ship with a
variety of colours; as ensigns, flags, pendants, &c. displayed from
different parts of her masts and rigging on a day of festivity.
DRIFT, in navigation, _derive_ (from _drive_), the angle which the line
of a ship’s motion makes with the nearest meridian, when she drives with
her side to the wind and waves, and is not governed by the power of the
helm: it also implies the distance which the ship drives on that line.
A ship’s way is only called drift in a storm; and then, when it blows so
vehemently, as to prevent her from carrying any sail, or at least
restrains her to such a portion of sail as may be necessary to keep her
sufficiently inclined to one side, that she may not be dismasted by her
violent labouring produced by the turbulence of the sea.
DRIVER, an oblong sail, occasionally hoisted to the mizen-peak, when the
wind is very fair. The lower corners of it are extended by a _boom_ or
pole, which is thrust out across the ship, and projects over the
lee-quarter.
DRIVING, _abattre_ (_drifan_, Sax.) the state of being carried at random
along the surface of the water, as impelled by a storm, or impetuous
current: it is generally expressed of a ship when, accidentally, broke
loose from her anchors or moorings.
DROP, _etarcure_, a name sometimes given to the depth of the principal
sails; as, her main-top-sail _drops_ seventeen yards.
DUCKING, a sort of marine punishment inflicted by the French on those
who have been convicted of desertion, blasphemy, or exciting sedition.
It is performed as follows: the criminal is placed astride of a short
thick batten, fastened to the end of a rope, which passes thro’ a block
hanging at one of the yard-arms. Thus fixed, he is hoisted suddenly up
to the yard, and the rope being slackened at once, he is plunged into
the sea. This chastisement is repeated several times, conformable to the
purport of the sentence pronounced against the culprit, who has at that
time several cannon-shot fastened to his feet during the punishment,
which is rendered public by the firing of a gun, to advertise the other
ships of the fleet thereof, that their crews may become spectators.
_Aubin._
DUCKING, is also a penalty which veteran sailors pretend to inflict on
those, who, for the first time, pass the tropic of Cancer, the Equator,
or the streights of Gibraltar, in consequence of their refusal or
incapacity to pay the usual fine levied on this occasion, which would
redeem them from the said penalty.
DUNNAGE, _fardage_, a quantity of faggots, boughs of trees, or other
loose wood, laid in the bottom of a ship, either to raise the heavy
goods which might make her too stiff, or to keep the cargo sufficiently
above the bottom, that it may sustain no damage from the water, if the
ship should prove leaky.
E.
EARINGS, _rabans_, certain small cords employed to fasten the upper
corners of a sail to its respective yard; for which purpose one end of
the earing is spliced to the _cringle_, fixed in that part of the sail;
and the other end of it is passed six or seven times round the yard-arm
and through the cringle, thereby fastening the latter to the former. Two
of the turns are intended to stretch the upper-edge of the sail tight
along the yard; and the rest to draw it close up to it. The former are
therefore called _outer_, and the latter _inner_ turns, as being passed
without, or within the rigging, on the yard-arms.
EASE _the ship_! the command given by the pilot to the steersman, to put
the helm close to the lee-side, or, in the sea-phrase, _hard-a-lee_,
when the ship is expected to _pitch_ or plunge her fore-part deep in the
water, while close-hauled. The reason usually given for this practice
is, that the sudden movement of the helm prevents the ship’s head from
falling with so much weight and rapidity into the hollow of the sea, as
it would do otherwise: which is presuming that the flow, and uncertain
effect of the helm is sufficient to retard the certain and violent
action of gravity: a position that necessarily infers a very singular
theory of mechanics. We shall not endeavour to advance any argument in
favour of this practice; only to remark, that it is most religiously
observed, both in merchant-ships and his majesty’s navy.
_To_ EASE _off_, or EASE _away_, _molir_, _filer_, to slacken gradually
any single rope, or complication of ropes, formed into a tackle.
EBB, _jussant_, the reflux of the tide, or the return of it into the sea
after the highest of the flood, usually termed full-sea, or high-water.
EDDY, _remoux_, (_ed_, backward, again, and _ea_, water, Sax.) the water
that, by some interruption in its course, runs contrary to the direction
of any river, or current, and appears like the motion of a whirlpool.
_To_ EDGE _away_, in navigation, _abattre_, to decline gradually from
the shore, or from the line of the course which the ship formerly
steered: it is particularly applied when a ship changes her course, by
sailing nearer the direction of the wind; or, in the lea-language, by
sailing _larger_, or more _afore_ the wind, than she had done before
that operation.
ELBOW _in the hause_, a particular twist in the cables by which a ship
rides at anchor. In this situation each of the cables, after crossing
the other before the stem, is directed outwards on the same _bow_ from
which it issued: that is to say, the starboard cable _grows_ out on the
starboard bow, and the larboard cable on the larboard bow, as exhibited
in fig. 36, plate II. where a expresses the fore-castle, b the stem, c c
the larboard cable, and d d the starboard one. See the article HAWSE.
EMBARGO, in commerce, _arret_ (_embargar_, Span.), an arrest laid on
ships or merchandise by public authority, or a prohibition of state,
commonly issued on foreign ships, to prevent their putting to sea in
time of war; and sometimes to prevent their coming in, and otherwise
both to prevent their entrance and departure.
EMBAYED, _encapé_, (from _bay_,) the situation of a ship when she is
inclosed between two capes or promontories. It is particularly applied
when the wind, by blowing strongly into any bay or gulf, makes it
extremely difficult, and perhaps impracticable, for the vessel thus
enclosed, to _claw_ off from the shore, so as to weather the capes and
arrive into the offing.
ENGAGEMENT, in a naval sense, implies a particular or general battle at
sea; or an action of hostility between single ships, or _detachments_,
or _squadrons_ of men of war.
In order to have a clearer idea of this article, it will, therefore, be
necessary that the reader who is little acquainted with the subject,
should previously refer to the explanation of those terms, as also to
the articles CANNON, DIVISION, EXERCISE, FLEET, and LINE _of_ BATTLE.
The sea-fights of the ancients were usually carried on in two different
manners. Advanced by the force of their oars, the gallies ran violently
_aboard_ of each other, and by the mutual encounter of their beaks and
prows, and sometimes of their sterns, endeavoured to dash in pieces, or
sink their enemies.
The prow, for this purpose, was commonly armed with a brazen point or
trident, nearly as low as the surface of the sea, in order to pierce the
enemy’s ships under the water. Some of the gallies were furnished with
large turrets, and other accessions of building, either for attack or
defence. The soldiers also annoyed their enemies with darts and slings,
and, on their nearer approach, with swords and javelins; and, in order
that their missive weapons might be directed with greater force and
certainty, the ships were equipped with several platforms, or elevations
above the level of the deck[9]. The sides of the ship were fortified
with a thick fence of hides, which served to repel the darts of their
adversaries, and to cover their own soldiers, who thereby annoyed the
enemy with greater security.
As the invention of gun-powder has rendered useless many of the machines
employed in the naval wars of the ancients, the great distance of time
has also consigned many of them to oblivion: some few are, nevertheless,
recorded in ancient authors, of which we shall endeavour to present a
short description. And first,
The Δελφιν was a large and massy piece of lead or iron, cast in the form
of a dolphin. This machine being suspended by blocks at their mast-heads
or yard-arms, ready for a proper occasion, was let down violently from
thence into the adverse ships, and either penetrated through their
bottom, and opened a passage for the entering waters, or by its weight
immediately sunk the vessel.
The Δρήπαναν an engine of iron crooked like a sickle, and fixed on the
top of a long pole. It was employed to cut asunder the _slings_ of the
sail-yards, and, thereby letting the sails fall down, to disable the
vessel from escaping, and incommode her greatly during the action.
Similar to this was another instrument, armed at the head with a broad
two-edged blade of iron, wherewith they usually cut away the ropes that
fastened the rudder to the vessel[10].
Δόρατα ναύμαχα, a sort of spears or maces of an extraordinary length,
sometimes exceeding twenty cubits, as appears by the 15th Iliad of
Homer[11], by whom they are also called μακρὰ.
Κιραῖαι were certain machines used to throw large stones into the
enemies ships.
Vegetius mentions another engine, which was suspended to the main-mast,
and resembled a battering-ram: for it consisted of a long beam, and an
head of iron, and was, with great violence, pushed against the sides of
the enemies gallies.
They had also a grappling-iron, which was usually thrown into the
adverse ship by means of an engine: this instrument facilitated the
entrance of the soldiers appointed to _board_, which was done by means
of wooden bridges, that were generally kept ready for this purpose in
the fore-part of the vessel[12].
The arms used by the ancients rendered the disposition of their fleets
very different, according to the time, place and circumstances. They
generally considered it an advantage to be to windward, and to have the
sun shining directly on the front of their enemy. The order of battle
chiefly depended on their power of managing the ships, or of drawing
them readily into form; and on the schemes which their officers had
concerted. The fleet being composed of rowing-vessels, they lowered
their sails previous to the action: they presented their prows to the
enemy, and advanced against each other by the force of their oars[13].
Before they joined battle, the admirals went from ship to ship, and
exhorted their soldiers to behave gallantly. All things being in
readiness, the signal was displayed by hanging out of the admiral’s
galley a gilded shield, or a red garment or banner. During the elevation
of this the action continued, and by its depression, or inclination
towards the right or left, the rest of the ships were directed how to
attack, or retreat from their enemies. To this was added the sound of
trumpets, which began in the admiral’s galley, and continued round the
whole navy. The light was also begun by the admiral’s galley, by
grappling, boarding, and endeavouring to overset, sink, or destroy, the
adversary, as we have above described[14]. Sometimes, for want of
grappling irons, they fixed their oars in such a manner as to hinder the
enemy from retreating.[15] If they could not manage their oars as
dexterously as their antagonists, or fall along-side so as to board him,
they penetrated his vessel with the brazen prow. The vessels approached
each other as well as their circumstances would permit, and the soldiers
were obliged to fight hand to hand, till the battle was decided: nor
indeed could they fight otherwise with any certainty, since the shortest
distance rendered their slings and arrows, and almost all their
offensive weapons, ineffectual, if not useless. The squadrons were
sometimes ranged in two or three right lines, parallel to each other;
being seldom drawn up in one line, unless when formed into an half moon.
This order indeed appears to be the most convenient for rowing vessels
that engage by advancing with their prows towards the enemy. At the
battle of Ecnomus, between the Romans and the Carthaginians, the fleet
of the former was ranged into a triangle, or a sort of wedge in front,
and towards the middle of its depth, of two right parallel lines. That
of the latter was formed into a rectangle, or two sides of a square, of
which one branch extended behind, and, as the opening of the other
prosecuted the attack, was ready to fall upon the flank of such of the
Roman gallies as should attempt to break their line. Ancient history has
preserved many of these orders, of which some have been followed in
later times. Thus, in a battle in A. D. 1340, the English fleet was
formed in two lines, the first of which contained the larger ships, the
second consisted of all the smaller vessels, used as a reserve to
support the former whenever necessary. In 1545 the French fleet under
the command of the Mareschal d’Annebault, in an engagement with the
English in the Channel, was arranged in the form of a crescent. The
whole of it was divided into three bodies, the center being composed of
thirty-six ships, and each of the wings of thirty. He had also many
gallies; but these fell not into the line, being designed to attack the
enemy occasionally. This last disposition was continued down to the
reigns of James I. and Louis XIII[16].
Meanwhile the invention of gun-powder, in 1330, gradually introduced the
use of fire-arms into naval war, without finally superseding the ancient
method of engagement. The Spaniards were armed with cannon in a
sea-fight against the English and the people of Poitou abreast of
Rochelle in 1372; and this battle is the first wherein mention is made
of artillery in our navies. Many years elapsed before the marine
armaments were sufficiently provided with fire-arms[17]. So great a
revolution in the manner of fighting, and which necessarily introduced a
total change in the construction of ships, could not be suddenly
effected. In short, the squadrons of men of war are no longer formed of
rowing-vessels, or composed of gallies and ships of the line, but
entirely of the latter, which engage under sail, and discharge the whole
force of their artillery from their sides. Accordingly they are now
disposed in no other form than that of a right line parallel to the
enemy; every ship keeping _close-hauled_ upon a wind on the same tack.
Indeed the difference between the force and manner of fighting of ships
and gallies rendered their service in the same line incompatible. When
we consider therefore the change introduced, both in the construction
and working of ships, occasioned by the use of cannon, it necessarily
follows, that squadrons of men of war must appear in the order that is
now generally adopted. Finally, the ships ought to present their
broad-sides to the enemy; and to sail close upon a wind in the wake of
each other; as well to retain their own uniformity, as to preserve or
acquire the advantage which the weather-gage gives them over their
adversary[18].
The machines which owe their rise to the invention of gun powder have
now totally supplanted the others; so that there is scarce any but the
sword remaining, of all the weapons used by the ancients. Our naval
battles are therefore almost always decided by fire-arms, of which there
are several kinds, known by the general name of artillery.
In a ship of war fire-arms are distinguished into cannon mounted on
carriages, swivel-cannon, grenadoes, and musquetry. The first has been
already described at large in its proper place. The second is a small
piece of artillery, carrying a shot of half a pound, and fixed in a
socket on the top of the ships side, stern or bow, and also in her tops.
The trunnions of this piece are contained in a sort of iron crotch,
whose lower-end terminates in a cylindrical pivot resting in the socket,
so as to support the weight of the cannon. The socket is bored in a
strong piece of oak, reinforced with iron hoops, in order to enable it
to sustain the recoil. By means of this frame, which is called the
swivel, and an iron handle on its cascabel, the gun may be directed by
hand to any object. It is therefore very necessary in the tops,
particularly when loaded with musket-balls, to fire down on the
upper-decks of the adversary in action.——The grenado is a kind of little
bomb of the same diameter as a four pound bullet; it weighs about two
pounds, being charged with four or five ounces of powder.——Grenadoes are
thrown from the tops by the hands of the seamen. They have a touch-hole
in the same manner as a bomb, and a fuse of the same composition. See
MORTAR. The sailor fires the fuse with a match, and throws the grenado
as he is directed: the powder being inflamed, the shell instantly bursts
into splinters, that kill or maim whomsoever they reach on the decks of
the enemy. As this machine cannot be thrown by hand above fifteen or
sixteen fathoms, the ship must be pretty near, to render it useful in
battle.——The musket or firelock is so well known, that it appears
unnecessary to describe it in this place.—Besides these machines, there
are several others used in merchant-ships and privateers, as coehorns,
carabines, fire-arrows, organs, powder-flasks, stink-pots, &c[19].