![naval action ranks abd crews naval action ranks abd crews](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/46/a9/64/46a964832f2426eb444ae806a23cc1bb--flight-deck-us-navy.jpg)
Typically a secondary function of the general crew of a ship. In addition to the duties of an ordinary seaman, able seamen are able to perform duties such as taking the helm, testing the water's depth with a lead line, acting as a sailmaker, and use the chip log to determine the vessel's speed. Ship's Boy (second class/under-eighteen) - Older boys, typically with some sailing experience, working as landsmen.Īble Seaman - Sailors thoroughly familiar with duties at sea. They typically work with the ship's rigging and sails, as well as performing basic ship maintenance and cleaning. Ordinary Seaman - A sailor with some experience at sea. Ship's Boy (third class/under-fifteen) - Young boys serving an apprenticeship, typically employed as officer's servants. Landsmen without special skills were given jobs such as 'Captain of the Head' (responsible for cleaning the toilet), 'Jack in the Dust' (a gun room cleaner), or assistant cook. Landsmen with a specialized and/or useful previous profession can be classed as an ordinary seaman by filling a niche such as barber, tailor, servant, etc. Landsman - Inexperienced sailors who are new to the sea. They also sang ‘sea shanties’ – rhythmic work songs to help repetitive tasks such as hauling on ropes.The portion of the crew which performs the majority of ship's duties. Traditionally hard-drinking and tough, seamen made the best of their cramped living quarters, enjoying games of dice and cards, telling tales, playing musical instruments, carving, drawing, practising knots or model making.
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However, as well as basic wages, sailors would expect to have a share of prize money or booty from captured enemy vessels. What sort of pay did seamen get?īy the end of the 1700s, pay on a naval ship was less than that on a merchant ship. Ships' surgeons worked in cramped and filthy conditions with no anaesthetic, so infection and gangrene was commonplace. Seamen were often cold and wet, rats carried disease, and a poor diet not only caused malnutrition, but specific illnesses such as scurvy – caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet.Īs well as injury from shipboard accidents, there was risk of death or maiming in times of battle. There was a great deal of sickness at sea. Pressing peaked in the 18th century but it was still going on as late as 1850. It was not always possible to fill ships’ crews with volunteers, especially in wartime, so the law allowed gangs to seize men and force them to join a ship. This is an indication of a class distinction between roles on board. It is interesting to note that the names for jobs of men responsible for working a ship (boatswain, coxswain, seamen) are of Anglo-Saxon origin, while those of officers (Captain, Lieutenant, Admiral) are of Norman-French origin. Other members of the crew would, of course, carry out all the duties, including keeping watch, handling sails, and cleaning decks. Typical jobs on board included cook, parson, surgeon, master gunner, boatswain (in charge of the sails), carpenter and quartermaster. It was also affected by the presence of rats and other vermin on board. The quality of food deteriorated because of storage problems, lack of ventilation, and poor drainage. The main rations were salt beef or pork, cheese, fish, ale and some form of ship's biscuit. A seaman found guilty of mutiny or murder would be hanged from the yard arm. A rope's end was used, or the infamous ‘cat o’ nine tails’. Flogging was the most common, with the whole crew often made to watch. Seamen could be ‘tarred and feathered’, tied to a rope, swung overboard and ducked or ‘keel-hauled’, dragged round the underneath of the ship. In this way they hoped to keep morale high and prevent mutiny. A seaman's life was hard, and he had to be tough to survive, so ship's officers kept strict discipline on board.