Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 Part 22

[3] _Dict. Nat. Biog._ vol. ii. p. 33.

[4] Barrow, _Life of Anson_, p. 162

[5] _Observations on Naval Tactics, &c._, p. 27.

[6] In the Admiralty Library. It is undated, but a.s.signed to 1792-3.

For the reasons for identifying it as Howe's second code see _post_, pp.

234-7. In his first code Howe adopted Hood's wording almost exactly; see _post_, p. 236.

[7] _Letters of Sir Samuel Hood_, p. 46; and cf. _post_, p. 228 _n._

_ADMIRAL VERNON, circa_ 1740.

[+Mathews-Lestock Pamphlets+.[1]]

_An Additional Instruction to be added to the Fighting Instructions_.

In case of meeting any squadron of the enemy's ships, whose number may be less than those of the squadron of his majesty's ships under my command, and that I would have any of the smaller ships quit the line, I will in such case make the signal for speaking with the captain of that ship I would have quit the line; and at the same time I will put a flag, striped yellow and white, at the flagstaff at the main topmast-head, upon which the said ship or ships are to quit the line and the next ships are to close the line, for having our ships of greatest force to form a line just equal to the enemy's. And as, upon the squadrons engaging, it is not to be expected that the ships withdrawn out of the line can see or distinguish signals at such a juncture, it is therefore strictly enjoined and required of such captain or captains, who shall have their signal or signals made to withdraw out of the line, to demean themselves as a _corps de reserve_ to the main squadron, and to place themselves in the best situation for giving relief to any ship of the squadron that may be disabled or hardest pressed by the enemy, having in the first place regard to the ship I shall have my flag on board, as where the honour of his majesty's flag is princ.i.p.ally concerned. And as it is morally impossible to fix any general rule to occurrences that must be regulated from the weather and the enemy's disposition, this is left to the respective captain's judgment that shall be ordered out of the line to govern himself by as becomes an officer of prudence, and as he will answer the contrary at his peril.

_Memorandum_.--That whereas all signals for the respective captains of the squadron are at some one of the mast-heads, and as when we are in line of battle or in other situations it may be difficult for the ships to distinguish their signal, in such case you are to take notice that your signal will be made by fixing the pennant higher upon the topgallant shrouds, so as it may be most conspicuous to be seen by the respective ship it is made for.

_A second Additional Instruction to the Fighting Instructions_.

If, at any time after our ships being engaged with any squadron of the enemy's ships, the admiral shall judge it proper to come to a closer engagement with the enemy than at the distance we first began to engage, the admiral will hoist a union flag at the main topmast-head and fire a gun on the opposite side to which he is engaged with the enemy, when every ship is to obey the signal, taking the distance from the centre; and if the admiral would have any particular ship do so he will make the same signal with the signal for the captain of that ship.

And in case of being to leeward of the enemy, the admiral will at the same time he makes this signal hoist the yellow flag at the fore topmast-head for filling and making sail to windward.

And during the time of engagement, every ship is to appoint a proper person to keep an eye upon the admiral and to observe signals.

FOOTNOTE:

[1] 'A Narrative of the Proceedings of his Majesty's Fleet in the Mediterranean, &c. By a Sea Officer' London, 1744, pp. 111-2

_LORD ANSON, circa_ 1747_.

[+MS. Signal Book, 1756, United Service Inst.i.tution+.]

_Lord Anson's Additional Fighting Instruction, to be inserted after Article the 4th in the Additional Fighting Instructions by Day_.

Whereas it may often be necessary for ships in line of battle, to regulate themselves by bearing on some particular point of the compa.s.s from each other without having any regard to their bearing abreast or ahead of one another;

You are therefore hereby required and directed to strictly observe the following instructions:

When the signal is made for the squadron to draw into a line of battle at any particular distance, and I would have them keep north and south of each other, I will hoist a red flag with a white cross in the mizen topmast shrouds to show the quarter of the compa.s.s, and for the intermediate points I will hoist on the flagstaff at the mizen top-mast-head, when they are to bear

N by E and S by W, one common pennant NNE " SSW, two common pennants NE by N " SW by S, three " "

NE " SW, a Dutch jack.

And I will hoist under the Dutch jack when I would have them bear

NE by E and SW by W, one common pennant ENE " WSW, two common pennants E by N " W by S, three " "

and fire a gun with each signal.

When I would have them bear from each other on any of the points on the NW and SE quarters I will hoist a blue and white flag on the mizen topmast shrouds, to show the quarter of the compa.s.s and distinguish the intermediate points they are to form on from the N and S in the same manner as in the NE and SW quarter.[1]

ED. HAWKE.

FOOTNOTE:

[1] From this article it would appear that the correct expression for 'line of bearing' is 'quarter line'--_i.e._ a line formed in a quarter of the compa.s.s, and that 'bow and quarter line' is due to false etymology. Though Hawke approved the formation, it does not appear in the Additional Instructions used by Boscawen in 1759. It was however regularly incorporated in those used in the War of American Independence. See _post_, p. 225, Art. III.

_SIR EDWARD HAWKE_, 1756.

[+MS. Signal Book, United Service Inst.i.tution+.]

_Memorandum_,

In room of Articles V. and VI. of the 'Additional Fighting Instructions by Day'[1] it is in my discretion that this be observed, viz.:

When sailing in a line of battle, one ship ahead of another, and I would have the ship that leads with either the starboard or larboard tacks aboard to alter her course in order to lead down to the enemy, I will hoist a Dutch jack under my flag at the mizen topmast-head and fire two guns. Then every ship of the squadron is to steer for the ship of the enemy that from the disposition of the two squadrons must be her lot to engage, notwithstanding I shall keep the signal for the line ahead flying, making or shortening sail in such proportion as to preserve the distance a.s.signed by the signal for the line, in order that the whole squadron as soon as possible may come to action at the same time.[2]

ED. HAWKE.

_Additional Signals_.

If upon seeing an enemy I should think it necessary to alter the disposition of the ships in the line of battle, and would have any ships change station with each other, I will make the signal to speak with the captains of such ships, and hoist the flag chequered red and blue on the flagstaff at the mizen topmast-head.[3]

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _I.e._ the older set. They were Articles XV. and XVI. of the remodelled set used by Boscawen in 1759.

[2] This article was presumably issued by Hawke when in July 1756 he superseded Byng in the Mediterranean. It seems designed to prevent a recurrence of the errors which lost the battle of Minorca, where the British van was crushed by coming into action long before the centre and rear. It is not in the Additional Instructions of 1759, but reappears in a modified form in those of 1780.

[3] This article is entered in the same signal book, but has no signature. It may therefore have been one of Anson's innovations.

_ADMIRAL BOSCAWEN_, 1759.[1]

[+From the original in the Admiralty Library, 252/29+.]