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your mouse over the deck plan below to take a peek at relevant parts
of the ship Hover your steady mouse for a few seconds to bring up a "Tooltip" fact caption |
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The Gun Deck, with its 18 pounder cannons, was the
key to a frigate's fighting ability. Moving into loading and firing positions
by muscle alone, each gun had a crew of several men to perform these
backbreaking tasks. In the heat of battle, the gunners would endure thick
smoke and intense heat from their own cannons, as well as the threat
of enemy fire. The Gun Deck was also the location of the Captain's Great
Cabin - a relatively enormous amount of space given the cramped conditions
the rest of the crew resided in. The Galley Stove is found on this deck
too. |
A. The Great
Cabin, the Captain's cabin, normally divided into sleeping and working
areas by curtains. It could also hold cannons if required. B. The Shannon C. Lower Capstan, used to lift the anchor and the ship's launches, in battle the slots for the 12 bars would hold drawers full of bandages. D. Port (larward) main hatchway E. Starboard main hatchway, the starting point for Trincomalee's visitors. F. The Galley Stove, source of the crew's hot meals, sitting in a huge copper pan to reduce fire risk. G. The Manger, a pen for holding animals to provide the crew with fresh milk, eggs, cheese and meat. |
