Sailing and Fighting Instructions for His Majesty's Fleet.

Instructions for Sailing in a Fog.

INSTR. I.
To weigh. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to Weigh, he will fire ten Guns; which are to be answered by every Flag-ship in the Fleet.

You are to observe, That the Guns which you fire for Signals in a Fog, be all fired on the same Side, that they may make no Alteration in the Sound.

II.
To Tack. If the Admiral would have the Fleet to tack, he will fire four Guns; which are to be answered by every Flag-ship in the Fleet: Then the Leewardest and Sternmost Ships are to Tack first, and after they are about, to go with the same Sail they tacked with, and not to lie-by, expecting the Admiral to come a-head; which is to avoid the Danger of running through one another in thick Weather.
III.
To bring to and lie by. If the Admiral think fit to bring to, and lie-by with his Head-sails to the Mast, with the Starboard Tack aboard, he will fire six Guns; if with the Larboard Tack aboard, eight Guns; which are to be answered by every Flag-ship in the Fleet.
IV.
To make Sail after lying by. When the Admiral makes Sail, after lying with his Head-sails to the Mast, he will fire ten GunsM which are to answered by every Flag-ship of the Fleet; and then the Headmost and Weathermost Ships are to make Sail first.
V.
To continue the same Sail. If it grow thick and foggy Weather, the Admiral will continue sailing with the same Sail set that he had before it grew foggy, and will fire every Hour a Gun; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet; and the private Ships are to answer by firing of Musquets, beating of Drums, and ringing of Bells.
VI.
To make more Sail than when the Fog came up. If the Admiral is necessiated to make more or less Sail than he had when the Fog came up, he will fire every Half Hour a Gun, that the Fleet may thereby discern, whether they come up with the Admiral, or fall a-stern of him; which is to be answered by every Flag-ship in the Fleet; and the private Ships are to answer by fireing of Musquets, beating of Drums, or ringing of Bells.
VII.
Upon Discovery of Danger. If any one discovers Danger, which he can avoid by Tacking and standing from it, he is to make the Signal for Tacking in a Fog; but if he should chance to strike a stick fast, he is to fire Gun after Gun, till he believes His Majesty's Fleet have avoided the Danger, either by Tacking, Bearing up, or Anchoring.
VIII.
To Anchor. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to Anchor, he will fire two Guns; which are to be answered by every Flagship in the Fleet; and lest there should be Ships so far a-stern that they could not hear the Flag-ships Guns when they answered, the Admiral will fire two Guns more after he has been Half an Hour at Anchor; which are to be answered by every Flag-ship in the Fleet.

Sailing and Fighting Instructions for His Majesty's Fleet, 1775.

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius


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