In the late 18th century a large part of the crew were volunteers, but as the navy expanded in wartime the need for men increased. The majority of any ship’s crew consisted of the seamen who sailed and fought the vessel. Every naval vessel also carried a complement of marines who helped keep order aboard ship and provided troops for amphibious landings. These included the ship’s master, surgeon, carpenter, gunner, and others. Beneath the commissioned officers were a wide range of warrant and petty officers who saw to the day-to-day running of the ship. Because of this process, most officers in the Royal Navy were generally well experienced and capable by the time they reached positions of command. Promotion to captain was more difficult and often came after displaying gallantry in battle or through political or social connections. After several years midshipmen could take the lieutenant's exam and receive a commission if they passed. During this time they learned the fundamentals of navigation, seamanship, and leadership as they assisted the officers of the ship. The vast majority entered the service in their teens, serving as midshipmen. Unlike officers in the army, naval officers did not purchase their commissions, and instead gained their commissions through a mix of experience, networking, and luck. Like frigates, they often played a variety of roles because of their speed and size and were widely used on the many rivers, lakes, and estuaries of North America.Įvery rated vessel was commanded by a captain, who had a number of commissioned officers who served under him. Any vessel carrying less than 20 guns was unrated, and this class included a variety of sloops, brigs, gunboats, cutters, and other vessels. Smaller and more maneuverable than ships-of-the-line, frigates were used for convoy escorts, reconnaissance, and commerce raiding. Fifth and sixth-rate ships, known as frigates would see extensive service during the Revolutionary War. They were often relegated to convoy escorts or colonial service where the threat of enemy battleships was more limited. Prior to the Revolution fourth-rate vessels (50-60 guns) were considered ships-of-the-line, but by the 1770s they were considered too small to be effective in a general battle. Third-rate ships, typically carrying 74 guns, were by far the most common ships-of-the-line in the late 18th century. These large battleships were deployed in line formations with the intention of battering enemy vessels with crashing broadsides in direct combat. Together with second-rate (80-98 guns) and third-rate (64-80 guns), these vessels were known as ships-of-the-line, which referred to their role in battle. At the top of the system were the first-rate ships, which featured over 100 guns arranged on three gun decks, manned by over 800 officers and men. Navy vessels were organized along a rating system that broadly defined their size and their use. In the later years of the war, the navy would be crucial in holding off the French, Spanish, and Dutch as the war spread across the globe. During the American Revolution, the navy played a critical role in supporting the Army’s attempts to crush the American rebellion, allowing the army to strike anywhere along the coast. Britain also relied on her navy to defend trade flowing in from her far-flung colonies. The navy served as Britain’s “wooden walls,” protecting the home islands from invasion by much larger continental powers. By the end of the war that number would nearly double as the navy expanded to meet the threat posed by other European powers fighting alongside the Americans. These ranged from massive ships-of-the-line to tiny sloops and coastal vessels. At the start of the American Revolution, the Royal Navy numbered over 250 vessels of all sizes.
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