Название: The Seventy-Four Gun Ship: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Naval Architecture. Volume I: Hull Construction
Автор(ы): Jean Boudriot
Издательство: Jean Boudriot Publications
Год: 1986
Страниц: 170
Язык: English
Формат: PDF
Размер: 204 MB

As the main naval war machine at the end of the 18th century, the 74 Gun Ship was the result of a compromise, like every successful vessel. Her balance between strong guns and manoeuvrability offered by the 28 gun lower gundeck and firing 36 pound cannon-balls, made the "74" the perfect ship of the line. Since she moved more easily, she was much more useful in combat than the heavy 100 gun three-decker.
Her hull alone represented half of 3000 tons moving. 2800 hundred-year-old oak trees (a whole forest), and 600 tons of iron and wood bolts were needed for her construction. The hold and its orlop-deck could contain victuals for 6 months and water for 12 weeks. The gundeck had to bear the considerable weight of enormous 36-pdr guns, weighing 4 tons each. The upper deck, covered front and back with castles, carried lighter guns. This hull rose 7 meters above water and carried prodigious flights of sails. Each of the three masts, in three elements, rigged three floors of square sails and the main top-mast truck towered at 60 meters. This ship was well designed by her engineer and when correctly used by her crew, she performed superbly at sea in all weathers. In a fair breeze, she could exceed ten knots by sailing quartering.
BOOK 1
I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PORTS AND DOCKYARDS
1. General organisation
2. Surveyors
3. Summary table
Il. THE WORK OF THE SURVEYORS
1. Qualities demanded of a warship
2. Study of the hull shapes
3. Ships' draughts
4. Calculations
5. Specification
III. THE WORK OF THE SHIPWRIGHTS
1. Moulding in the loft
2. Marking out and fashionning in the yard
IV. MATERIALS
1. Timber
2. Hemp
3. Metals
4. Others materials
V. DOCKYARD INSTALLATIONS
1. Slipway and keel blocks
2. Raising and horning of the timbers
3. Launching