Royal Navy keywords

Question 1

blockade

Answer 1

tactic of blocking ships from leaving port

Question 2

broadsides

Answer 2

once the ship lines up adjacent to the enemy ship, all guns on one side of the ship are fired

Question 3

cat-o’ Nine Tails

Answer 3

a whip which had 9 knots

used to punish sailors for disobedience

Question 4

Comptroller of the Navy

Answer 4

Chief of the Navy Board

in charge of building and maintaining the Navy

Question 5

coppering

Answer 5

copper plating if the hull of a ship to prevent salt water degrading the wood

helps ships last longer (HMS Victory)

Question 6

forecastle

Answer 6

raised deck at the front of a ship

Question 7

frigates

Answer 7

small fast moving ships in the Navy (were more manoeuvrable)

was less armed than a Ship of the Line

Question 8

grapeshot

Answer 8

small cluster round shots packed into a canvas and fired from a cannon

delivered a powerful spread of fire which dealt damage to enemy ships

Question 9

gunlock

Answer 9

mechanism of how a gun explodes

speeds up the firing process of a gun

Question 10

impressment

Answer 10

method of press gangs

Question 11

landsmen

Answer 11

men with no experience at sea

Question 12

lanyard

Answer 12

short piece of rope

Question 13

marines

Answer 13

soldiers of the Royal Navy

Question 14

merchant men

Answer 14

trading ship sailors

Question 15

Ordnance Board

Answer 15

board responsible for arms + munitions

Question 16

prize money

Answer 16

money given to French sailors who captured British sailors

Question 17

scurvy

Answer 17

disease caused by a lack of Vitamin C

common at sea

Question 18

slowmatch

Answer 18

slow burning rope used to fire a gun

Question 19

senior service

Answer 19

what the Royal Navy were reffered to as because they were the oldest service in the British Armed Forces

Question 20

Ships of the Line

Answer 20

naval warship designed for ‘line of battle’ naval tactics

Question 21

closed blockade

Answer 21

main fleet sails near to the enemy port

Question 22

open blockade

Answer 22

main fleet remains in home port
frigates patrol near enemy port and inform main fleet when enemy fleet moves