Ship Fighting Instructions for his Majesty's ships

I.

Fleet to draw into a Line of Battle, one Ship a-head of another

When the Admiral would have the Fleet draw into a Line of Battle, one Ship a-head of another, (according to the Method given to each Captain) he will hoist an Union Flag at Mizen-peek and fire a Gun; and every Flag-ship in the Fleet is to make the same Signal.

II.

Fleet to draw into a Line of Battle, a-breast of another.

When the Admiral would have the Fleet draw into a Line of Battle, one Ship a-breast of another, (according to the Method given to each Captain) he will hoist a Union Flag and a Pendant at the Mizen-peek, and fire a Gun; and every Flag-ship in the Fleet is to do the same.

III.

Admiral of the White or Blue, and their Squadrons, to tack and gain the Wind of the Enemy.

When the Admiral would have the Admiral of the White, or he that commands the Second Post, and his whole Squadron to Tack, and endeavour to gain the Wind of the Enemy, he will spread a White Flag under the Flag at the Main-topmast-head, and fire a Gun; and when he would have the Admiral of the Blue, or he that commands in the Third Post, to do the same, he will spread a Blue Flag on that Place, and fire a Gun; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships in the Fleet.

IV.

Vice Admiral of the Red, White, or Blue, and their Divisions, to tack and gain the Wind of the Enemy.

When the Admiral would have the Vice-Admiral of the Red, and his Division, tack and endeavour to gain the Wind of the Enemy, he will spread a red Flag, from the Cap on the Fore-top-mast-head downward on the Back-stay: If he would have the Vice-Admiral of the White do the same, a White Flag: If the Vice-Admiral of the Blue, a Blue Flag, at the same Place, and fire a Gun.

V.

Rear Admiral of the Red, White, or Blue, and their Divisions, to tack and gain the Wind of the Enemy.

If the Admiral be to Leeward of the Fleet, or any Part of the Fleet, and he would have them bear down into his Wake or Grain, he will hoist a Blue Flag at the Mizen-peek, and fire a Gun.

VI.

Fleet to bear down into the Admirals Wake, or Grain, when he is to Leeward of them.

If the Admiral be to Leeward of the Fleet, or any Part of the Fleet, and he would have them bear down into his Wake or Grain, he will hoist a Blue Flag at the Mizen-peek, and fire a Gun.

VII.

Ships to Leeward of the Admiral, to get into his Wake or Grain.

If the Admiral be to Leeward of the Enemy, and his Fleet, or any Part of them, to Leeward of him; that he may bring those Ships into a Line, he will bear up with a Blue Flag at the Mizen-peek under the Union Flag, which is the Signal for the Line of Battle, and fire a Gun; and then those Ships to Leeward are to use their Endeavour to get into his Wake or Grain, according to their Stations in the Line of Battle.

VIII.

'Vice, or Rear-Admiral, &c. and Ships of the Starboard and Larboard Quarter to come to their said Tacks.'

If the Fleet be sailing before the Wind, and the Admiral would have him that commands in the Second Post, and the Ships of the Starboard Quarter to clap by the Wind, and come to the Starboard Tack, then he will hoist upon the Mizen-top-mast-head a Red Flag; and in the Case he would have him that commands in the Third Post, and the Ships of the Larboard Quarter to come to their Larboard Tack, then he will hoist up a Blue Flag at the same Place, and fire a Gun.

IX.

Van of the Fleet to tack first.

When the Admiral would have the Van of the Fleet to tack first, he will put abroad the Union Flag at the Flag-staff on the Fore-top-mast-head, and fire a Gun, if the Red Flag be not abroad; but if the Red Flag be abroad, then the Fore-top-sails shall be lowered a little, and the Union Flag shall be spread from the Cap of the Fore-top-mast downwards; and every Flag-ship in the Fleet is to do the same.

X.

Rear-Admiral of the Fleet to Tack first.

When the Admiral would have the Rear-Admiral of the Fleet tack first, he will hoist the Union Flag on the Flag-staff at the Mizen-top-mast-head, and fire a Gun; which is to be answered by every Flag-ship in the Fleet.

XI.

Flag-ships to come into the Admiral's Wake or Grain.

When the Admiral would have all the Flag-ships in the Fleet come into his Wake or Grain, he will hoist a Red Flag at the Mizen-peek, and fire a Gun; and the Flag-ships in the Fleet are to make the same Signal.

XII.

Admirals of the White or Blue, to make more Sail, tho' the Admiral himself shortens his.

When the Admiral would have the Admiral of the White, or he that commands in the Second Post, and his Squadron, make more Sail, though himself shorten Sail, he will hoist a White Flag on the Ensign-staff; if the Admiral of the Blue, or he that commands in the Third Post, a Blue Flag at the same Place, and fire a Gun; and every Flag-ship in the Fleet is to make the same Signal.

XIII.

Signals for Battle.

Frigates that are not in the Line of Battle to come under the Admiral's Stern.

As soon as the Admiral shall hoist a Red Flag on the Flag-staff at the Fore-top-mast-head, and fire a Gun, every Ship in the Fleet is to use their utmost Endeavour to engage the Enemy in the Order the Admiral has prescribed unto them.

When the Admiral hoists a White Flag at the Mizen-peek, and fires a Gun, then all the small Frigates of his Squadron that are not of the Line of Battle, are to come under his Stern.

XIV.

Rear of the Fleet to brace their Head-sails to the Mast.

If the Fleet is sailing by a Wind in the Line of Battle, and the Admiral would have them brace their Head sails to the Mast, he will hoist a Yellow Flag on the Flag-staff, at the Mizen-top-mast-head, and fire a Gun; which the Flag-ships in the Fleet are to answer: Then the Ships in the Rear are to brace to first.

XV.

Van of the Fleet to fill their Head-sails.

The Fleet lying in a Line of Battle with their Head-sails to the Mast, and if the Admiral would have them fill, and stand on, he will hoist a Yellow Flag on the Flag-staff at the Fore-top-mast-head, and fire a Gun; which the Flag-ships in the Fleet are to answer; then the Ships in the Van are to fill first, and to stand on: If it happen, when this Signal is to be made, that the Red Flag is Abroad on the Flag-staff at the Fore-top-mast-head, the Admiral will spread the Yellow Flag under the Red.

XVI.

Instructions to be observed in engaging the Enemy.

If the Admiral see the Enemies Fleet standing towards him, and he has the Wind of them, the Van of the Fleet is to make Sail till they come the Length of the Enemies rear, and our Rear a-breast of the Enemies Van; then he that is in the Rear of our Fleet is to tack first, and every Ship one after another, as fast as they can throughout the Line; and if the Admiral would have the whole Fleet to tack together, the sooner to put them in a Posture of engaging the Enemy, then he will hoist an Union Flag on the Flag-staves at the Fore and Mizen-top-mast-heads, and fire a Gun; and all the Flag-ships in the Fleet are to do the same: But in Case the Enemies Fleet should tack in the rear, our Fleet is to do the same with an equal Number of Ships; and whilst they are in Fight with the Enemy, to keep within half a Cable's Length one of another; or, if the Weather be bad, according to the Discretion of the Commanders.

XVII.

Ship that leads the Van of the Fleet, when in a Line, to hoist, lower, set or hawl up any of his Sails.

When the Admiral would have the Ship that leads the Van of the Fleet, or the Headmost Ship in the Fleet, when they are in a Line of Battle, hoist, lower, set or hawl up any of his Sails, the Admiral will spread a Yellow Flag under that at the Main-top-mast-head, and fore a Gun; which the Flag-ships, that have Flags at the Main-top-mast-head, are to answer; and those Flag-ships, that have not, are to hoist the Yellow Flag on the Flag-staff at the Main-top-mast-head, and fire a Gun: Then the Admiral will hoist, lower, set or hawl up the Sail he would have the Ship that leads the Van do, which is to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet.

XVIII.

How to engage the Enemy when the Fleet has the Wind of them.

If the Admiral and his Fleet have the Wind of the Enemy, and they have stretched themselves in a Line of Battle, the Van of the Admiral's Fleet is to steer with the Van of the enemies, and there to engage them.

XIX.

Not to fire till within Point-Blank.

Every Commander is to take Care, that his Guns are not fired till he is sure he can reach the Enemy upon a Point-Blank; and by no Means to suffer his Guns to be fired over any of our own Ships.

XX.

Not to pursue a small Number of the Enemy, till the main Body is run or disabled.

None of the Ships in the Fleet shall pursue any small Number of the Enemies Ships, till the Main Body be disabled, or Run.

XXI.

When a Ship is in Distress.

When a Ship is in Distress, and make the Signal, which is a Weft with the Jack or Ensign, the next Ship to them is strictly required to relieve them.

XXII.

The Admiral, or any Flag-ship in Distress.

If the Admiral, or any Flag-ship, should be in Distress, and make the usual Signal, the Ships in the Fleet are to endeavour to get as close up into a Line, between him and the Enemy, as they can, having always an Eye to defend him, if the Enemy should come to annoy him, in that Condition.

XXIII.

No Ship to go out of the Line without Leave, and the next Ships to close up the Line.

No Ship in the Fleet shall leave his Station, upon any Pretence whatsoever, till he has acquainted his Flag, or the next Flag-Officer to him, with the Condition of his Ship, and received his Direction herein; but in Case any Ship shall so do, the next Ships are to close up the Line: And in any Commander shall be wanting in doing his Duty, his Flag, or the next Flag-Officer to him, is immediately to send for the said Commander from his Ship, and appoint another in his Room.

XXIV.

When a Flag Ships is disabled.

If any Flag-ship be disabled, the Flag may go on Board any Ship of his own Squadron or Division.

XXV.

The whole Fleet to Chase.

If the Enemy be put to the Run, and the Admiral thinks it convenient the whole Fleet shall follow them, he will make all the Sail he can himself after the Enemy, and take down the Signal for the Line of Battle, and fire two Guns out of his Fore-chase; and all the Flag-ships are to do the same: Then every Ship in the Fleet is to use his best Endeavour to come up with the Enemy, and lay them on Board.

XXVI.

Any particular Flag-ship, with his Squadron, or Division, to Chase.

If the Admiral would have any particular Flag-ship, and his Squadron, or Division, give Chase to the Enemy, he will make the same Signal that is appointed for that Flag-ship's Tacking with his Squadron or Division, and Weathering the Enemy.

XXVII.

Any Flag to Cut or Slip in the Day.

If the Admiral would have any Flag in his Division or Squadron Cut or Slip in the Day-time, he will make the same Signals that are appointed for those Flag-ships, and their Division or Squadron, to Tack and Weather the Enemy, as is expressed in the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Articles before-going.

XXVIII.

Red, White, or Blue Squadron to draw into a Line of Battle abreast or ahead of one another, or any Vice or Rear Admiral to do the like.

When the Admiral would have the Red Squadron draw into a Line of Battle, a-breast of one another, he will put abroad a Flag striped Red and White on the Flag-staff at the Main-top-mast-head, with a Pendant under it, and fire a Gun. If he would have the White Squadron, or those that have the Second Post in the Fleet to do the like, the Signal shall be a Flag striped Red, White and Blue, with a Pendant under it, at the aforesaid Place. And if he would have the Blue Squadron do the like, he will put on the said Place a Genoese Ensign together with the Pendant: But when he would have either of the said Squadrons to draw into a Line of Battle, a-head of one another, he will make the aforesaid Signals without a Pendant; which Signals are to be answered by the Flag-ships only of the said Squadrons, and be kept out till the Admiral takes in his. And if the Admiral would have any Vice-Admiral of the Fleet and his Division, draw into a Line of Battle, as aforesaid, he will make the same Signals at the Fore-top-mast-head that he makes for that Squadron at the Main-top-mast-head: And for any Rear-Admiral in the Fleet, and his Division, the same Signals at the Mizen-top-mast-head; which Signals are to be answered by the Vice or Rear-Admiral to whom the Signal is made.

XXIX.

Fleets to draw into a Line of Battle one astern of another.

When the Admiral would have the Fleet draw into a Line of Battle, one a-stern of the other, with a large Wind, and if he would have those lead who are to lead with their Starboard tacks aboard by a Wind, he will hoist a red and White Flag at the Mizen-peek, and fire a Gun, and if he would have those lead who are to lead with their Larboard Tacks aboard by a Wind, he will hoist a Genoese Flag at the same Place, and fire a Gun; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet.

XXX.

Signals made by the Admiral to be repeated by the Flags.

When the Fleet is in the Line of Battle, the Signals that are made by the Admiral, for any Squadron, or particular Division, are to be repeated by all the Flags that are between the Admiral and that Squadron, or Division, to whom the Signal is made.