Sunday, February 5, 2012

Ship classification

Types of Ships

What is a 'ship'?Although many people often refer to anything larger than a rowboat as a 'ship', in fact for real sailors and pirates the term 'ship' applies only to vessels that meet certain criteria.

The classification of ships is usually based mostly on the configuration of their rigging.
To be called a ship the vessel must be square-rigged, and must have three full masts with at least three stages of sails - course, topsail and t'gallant. Any other vessel not meeting these criteria is a boat and is known by its class name - ie sloop, brig, xebec, etc.
Creating one list that defines the different types of ships is difficult as, over the four or five centuries of the age of sail (and the Golden Age of Piracy itself covers some two centuries) the definitions of different classes of ships changed, some classes went out of use, and new classes came into use. The rating system for large warships described below, for example, only came into being relatively late, being used by the British Royal Navy from the late 1700s through the 1800s.

1st Rate: 
A ship of the line, the largest ship on the water at the time. Carries 100 great guns or more. Used by the established navies of the day. HMS Victory is a 1st rate. A great prize, but probably never used by a pirate since they required large crews (approx 800) and were expensive to operate:

1st Rate HMS Victory

2nd Rate: 
90-98 gun ship of the line, next largest

3rd Rate: 
64-80 gun ship of the line

4th Rate: 
40-60 gun ship of the line.

5th Rate: 
36 gun ship, as long as a first rate, but fewer cannons

6th Rate: 
28-30 gun ship, also long and low. The HMS Surprise of "Master and Commander" fame was rated a 6th rate light frigate.

Frigate: 
Frigate encompasses a wide range of sizes from 4th to 6th rate. U.S.S Constitution is considered to be a frigate. This is probably the largest ship a pirate would have.


Schooner:
 Small class of ship, lightly armed carrying only 6 guns, well used for 300 years. Schooners come in both two-masted and three-masted varieties. But whether two or three-masted, schooners are fore-and-aft rigged. More common in the United States than elsewhere. Probably not a favoured ship
schooner


Sloop: 
ship type commonly used by pirates, had few guns, but a shallow draft, and was incredibly fast, great for negotiating shallow waterways, essential when running from pursuit. Jean Lafitte is known to have used these extensively. carried 20 guns on one gun deck
sloop

Corvette: Light and fast, corvettes were lightly armed (10 guns, though some did carry more), but more than made up for their lack of armament with their speed. Not known whether pirates used them, commonly given to privateers because of their speed. Also sometimes referred to as a "sloop-of-war".
Corvette



Brig (and Brigantine):
 Small, fast two-masted ships. They took their name from the fact they were a favoured type of vessel for pirates or brigands. In earlier years brigantine referred to any small two-masted vessel that could be both sailed and rowed. Later the definition was more rigidly applied to certain rigging configurations. A brigantine is square-rigged on her foremast and upper mainmast, but her main sheet is actually rigged fore-and-aft on a gaff boom (as in the picture below). A brig is square-rigged on both masts. Carried around 10 guns
Brig



Barque (or Bark): 
The term 'barque' is one that has been in use in nautical terminology for a very long time, and has changed in definition over the years. Through the 1400s, 1500s and 1600s barque was usually applied to smaller coastal merchant vessels. In the 1700s the Royal Navy used the term generally to apply to vessels that did not fit into its other classifications. In the 1800s came to refer to a three masted vessel with a particular rigging configuration - square-rigged on the fore and main masts and fore-and-aft rigged on the mizzen.

HMS Beagle


Galleon: A class of ship developed and primarily used by the Spanish. Over several centuries galleons saw service both as merchant ships and warships. Galleons are large, heavy ships, broad in the beam, and usually characterized by high, multi-deck fore and aft castles. Those high structures, particularly the bulky fo'c'sles, tended to make galleons far less responsive in maneuverability. In later years the Spanish would cut down considerably on the size of the fo'c'sle in their galleon designs to improve performance handling, but they retained the high aft castles.
Below is an artistic rendering of a Spanish Galleon circa 1588 featuring the typical high fore and aft castles and low waist.

Spanish galleon c. 1588
Image source: Konstam, A. "Spanish Galleon 1530-1690". Opsrey Publishing. Illustration by Tony Bryan


Galley: The ship of choice for pirates of the mediterranean. Galleys rely on banks of long oars, sometimes as many as two or three decks of rowers, as their primary means of propulsion. Although most galleys would have shipped at least one mast with sails as a backup. In smooth water conditions galleys actually tend to be faster and more maneuverable than sailing ships which makes them far superior in areas like the Mediterranean Sea. However they do not fare well in the rougher waters of the Atlantic or English Channel. Caribbean waters are somewhat more suited to galleys, but only somewhat. Sailing ships were still the vessel of choice there.

Fluyt: Fluyts were common in European waters and, given the presence of Dutch colonies in the new world and the trading activities of the Dutch East India Company, would have been no strangers in the waters patrolled by Caribbean pirates.


Merchantman: 
Another common type of vessel used by pirates. Encompasses a wide range of descriptions. These ships were built for carrying large amounts of heavy cargo, and were well built. Some merchantmen carried cannons, other did not, those that did carried large guns, and plenty of them. May be similar in size to a frigate, but certainly easier to take.
merchantman


Gig: 
big rowboat.

Whaleboat: 
really big rowboat.

Dinghy:
 very small rowboat

Fireship: floating molotov cocktail, might be made from any class of vessel. 

Free DWG Reader (able to read calibrate and print DXF Drawings)

Below is a link to the Brava DWG viewer, as it is free it has its limitations, but I find once you get the hang of it, it works fine.

http://www.tucows.com/preview/520130

It has simple view tools and measurement tools with accurate snap-to-geometry functionality. Save views to JPEG. It runs as a desktop application, and an ActiveX control in IE.

H.M.S Enterprise Drawing 6


Inboard Works



Friday, February 3, 2012

H.M.S Enterprise Drawing 4

Bulkhead cut-out plan








Notches should be cut out at deck levels to receive cross ties for deck planking
Also all bulkhead fitting notches are 6mm and should be adapted for material thickness where needed.



These Plans are available in PDF or DXF format, post a comment or send me an E Mail should you want a set of plans in one of the above formats. This will be a complete set of plans including info and photo's. I will update this set of plans as they are completed over the coming weeks.

H.M.S Enterprise Drawing 3


Bulkhead cut-out plan



Notches should be cut out at deck levels to receive cross ties for deck planking
Also all bulkhead fitting notches are 6mm and should be adapted for material thickness where needed.

These Plans are available in PDF or DXF format, post a comment or send me an E Mail should you want a set of plans in one of the above formats. This will be a complete set of plans including info and photo's. I will update this set of plans as they are completed over the coming weeks.

Below is a list of ships of the Enterprise class

First batch
  • Siren
    • Ordered: 25 December 1770
    • Built by: John Henniker and Company, Chatham.
    • Keel laid: April 1771
    • Launched: 2 November 1773
    • Completed: 5 October 1775 at Chatham Royal Dockyard.
    • Fate: Grounded and abandoned under fire off Point Judith, Connecticut on 6 November 1777.
  • Fox
    • Ordered: 25 December 1770
    • Built by: Thomas Raymond, Northam (Southampton).
    • Keel laid: May 1771
    • Launched: 2 September 1773
    • Completed: 12 February 1776 at Portsmouth Royal Dockyard.
    • Fate: Captured by the French off Brest on 11 September 1778.
  • Surprise
    • Ordered: January 1771
    • Built by: Woolwich Royal Dockyard.
    • Keel laid: 5 September 1771
    • Launched: 13 April 1774
    • Completed: 15 April 1775
    • Fate: Sold at Woolwich Dockyard on 24 April 1783.
  • Enterprise
    • Ordered: January 1771
    • Built by: Deptford Royal Dockyard.
    • Keel laid: 9 September 1771
    • Launched: 24 August 1774
    • Completed: 20 June 1775
    • Fate: Taken to pieces at Deptford Dockyard in August 1807.
  • Actaeon
    • Ordered: 5 November 1771
    • Built by: Woolwich Royal Dockyard.
    • Keel laid: October 1772
    • Launched: 18 April 1775
    • Completed: 3 August 1775
    • Fate: Grounded off Fort Sullivan, South Carolina and burnt to avoid capture on 29 June 1776.
Second batch
  • Proserpine
    • Ordered: 14 May 1776
    • Built by: John Barnard, Harwich.
    • Keel laid: June 1776
    • Launched: 7 July 1777
    • Completed: 23 September 1777 at Sheerness Dockyard.
    • Fate: Wrecked in the Elbe Estuary on 1 February 1799.
  • Medea
    • Ordered: 14 May 1776
    • Built by: James Martin Hillhouse, Bristol.
    • Keel laid: June 1776
    • Launched: 28 April 1778
    • Completed: 15 September 1778 at Plymouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Fitted as hospital ship 1801. Sold 1805.
  • Andromeda
    • Ordered: 14 May 1776
    • Built by: Robert Fabian, East Cowes.
    • Keel laid: July 1776
    • Launched: 18 November 1777
    • Completed: 28 January 1778 at Portsmouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Lost with all hands in a hurricane off Martinique on 11 October 1780.
  • Aurora
    • Ordered: 3 July 1776
    • Built by: John Perry & Company, Blackwall.
    • Keel laid: July 1776
    • Launched: 7 June 1777
    • Completed: 9 August 1777 at Woolwich Dockyard.
    • Fate: Sold at Chatham on 3 November 1814.
  • Sibyl
    • Ordered: 24 July 1776
    • Built by: Henry Adams, Bucklers Hard.
    • Keel laid: 10 December 1776
    • Launched: 2 January 1779
    • Completed: 13 March 1779 at Portsmouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Wrecked off Madagascar on 26 July 1798.
  • Brilliant
    • Ordered: 9 October 1776
    • Built by: Henry Adams, Bucklers Hard.
    • Keel laid: February 1777
    • Launched: 15 July 1779
    • Completed: 4 September 1779 at Portsmouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Taken to pieces at Portsmouth Dockyard in November 1811.
  • Pomona
    • Ordered: 7 March 1777
    • Built by: Thomas Raymond, Chapel (Southampton).
    • Keel laid: 8 May 1777
    • Launched: 22 September 1778
    • Completed: 17 December 1778 at Portsmouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Taken to pieces at Portsmouth Dockyard in August 1811.
  • Crescent
    • Ordered: 19 July 1777
    • Built by: James Martin Hillhouse, Bristol.
    • Keel laid: 19 August 1777
    • Launched: March 1779
    • Completed: 30 June 1779 at Plymouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Captured by the French on 19 June 1781.
  • Nemesis
    • Ordered: 30 September 1777
    • Built by: Jolly, Leathers & Barton, Liverpool.
    • Keel laid: November 1777
    • Launched: 23 January 1780
    • Completed: 22 June 1780 at Plymouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Sold for breaking up at Plymouth Dockyard on 9 June 1814.
  • Resource
    • Ordered: 30 September 1777
    • Built by: John Randall & Company, Rotherhithe.
    • Keel laid: November 1777
    • Launched: 10 August 1778
    • Completed: 2 October 1778 at Deptford Dockyard.
    • Fate: Renamed Enterprise on 17 April 1806. Sold at Deptford Dockyard on 28 August 1816.
  • Mercury
    • Ordered: 22 January 1778
    • Built by: Peter Mestaer, Rotherhithe.
    • Keel laid: 25 March 1778
    • Launched: 9 December 1779
    • Completed: 24 February 1780 at Deptford Dockyard.
    • Fate: Taken to pieces at Woolwich Dockyard in January 1814.
  • Pegasus
    • Ordered: 21 February 1778
    • Built by: Deptford Dockyard.
    • Keel laid: 20 June 1778
    • Launched: 1 June 1779
    • Completed: 20 July 1779.
    • Fate: Sold at Deptford Dockyard to break up on 28 August 1816.
  • Cyclops
    • Ordered: 6 March 1778
    • Built by: James Menetone & Son, Limehouse.
    • Keel laid: 3 April 1778
    • Launched: 31 July 1779
    • Completed: 26 September 1779 at Deptford Dockyard.
    • Fate: Sold at Portsmouth Dockyard on 1 September 1814.
  • Vestal
    • Ordered: 18 March 1778
    • Built by: Robert & John Batson, Limehouse.
    • Keel laid: 1 May 1778
    • Launched: 24 December 1779
    • Completed: 25 February 1780 at Deptford Dockyard.
    • Fate: Sold at Barbados in February 1816.
  • Laurel
    • Ordered: 30 April 1778
    • Built by: Thomas Raymond, Chapel (Southampton).
    • Keel laid: 3 June 1778
    • Launched: 27 October 1779
    • Completed: 4 January 1780 at Portsmouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Wrecked in a hurricane off Martinique on 11 October 1780.
Third batch
  • Thisbe
    • Ordered: 23 February 1782
    • Built by: Thomas King, Dover.
    • Keel laid: September 1782
    • Launched: 25 November 1783
    • Completed: 19 April 1784 at Deptford Dockyard.
  • Circe
    • Ordered: 6 March 1782
    • Built by: Henry Ladd, Dover.
    • Keel laid: December 1782
    • Launched: 30 September 1785
    • Completed: 2 November 1790 at Woolwich Dockyard.
    • Fate: Wrecked off Great Yarmouth on 17 November 1803.
  • Rose
    • Ordered: 15 March 1782
    • Built by: Joshua Stewart & Hall, Sandgate.
    • Keel laid: June 1782
    • Launched: 1 July 1783
    • Completed: 23 October 1783 at Deptford Dockyard.
    • Fate: Wrecked off Jamaica on 28 June 1794.
  • Hussar
    • Ordered: 26 March 1782
    • Built by: Fabian, Clayton & Willson, Sandgate.
    • Keel laid: June 1782
    • Launched: 1 September 1784
    • Completed: November 1787 at Deptford Dockyard.
    • Fate: Wrecked off Brittany 27 December 1796
  • Alligator
    • Ordered: 7 May 1782
    • Built by: Philemon Jacobs, Sandgate.
    • Keel laid: December 1782
    • Launched: 18 April 1787
    • Completed: 18 July 1790 at Deptford Dockyard.
    • Fate: Sold at Plymouth Dockyard 21 July 1814.
  • Dido
    • Ordered: 5 June 1782
    • Built by: Joshua Stuart & Hall, Sandgate.
    • Keel laid: September 1782
    • Launched: 27 November 1784
    • Completed: October 1787 at Portsmouth Dockyard.
    • Fate: Sold at Portsmouth Dockyard on 3 April 1817.
  • Lapwing
    • Ordered: 22 October 1782
    • Built by: Thomas King, Dover.
    • Keel laid: February 1783
    • Launched: 21 September 1785
    • Completed: 19 May 1791 at Woolwich Dockyard.
    • Fate: Taken to pieces at Plymouth Dockyard in May 1828.


Thursday, February 2, 2012

H.M.S Enterprise Drawing 1 and 2

The fifth HMS Enterprise (sometimes spelled Enterprize), 28 guns, was the name ship of a class of twenty-seven sixth-rate frigates of the Royal NavyEnterprise was built at Deptford Royal DockyardEnglandlaunched in August 1774, and was commissioned in April 1775 under the command of Captain Sir Thomas Rich




Body plan and bulkhead cut-out plan




Notches should be cut out at deck levels to receive cross ties for deck planking
Also all bulkhead fitting notches are 6mm and should be adapted for material thickness where needed.
These Plans are available in PDF or DXF format, post a comment or send me an E Mail should you want a set of plans in one of the above formats. This will be a complete set of plans including info and photo's. I will update this set of plans as they are completed over the coming weeks.