Historical Background
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H.M.S. PALLAS: HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF AN 18th-CENTURY ROYAL NAVY FRIGATE A Thesis by PETER ERIK FLYNN Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS May 2006 Major Subject: Anthropology H.M.S. PALLAS: HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF AN 18th-CENTURY ROYAL NAVY FRIGATE A Thesis by PETER ERIK FLYNN Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Approved by: Chair of Committee, Kevin J. Crisman Committee Members, James C. Bradford Felipe Vieira de Castro Head of Department, David L. Carlson May 2006 Major Subject: Anthropology iii ABSTRACT HMS Pallas: Historical Reconstruction of an 18th-Century Royal Navy Frigate. (May 2006) Peter Erik Flynn, B.A., University of Manitoba Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Kevin J. Crisman A 1998 joint survey undertaken by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology and Portuguese authorities located and identified the sunken remains of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Pallas (1757-1783) off of the Azorean island of São Jorge. Physical remains are so limited as to suggest that excavation would likely yield little new information. However, much documentary evidence has been preserved in Admiralty archives. Contemporary treatises about 18th-century British ship construction focus on glossaries of terms, scantling lists and design theory, and include only short sections on frigates insofar as they apply to those topics. They rarely address specific construction aspects. Most current works address individual aspects of ship construction for the period, but provide little significant detail about the frigate as a ship type. All of these works are useful and reliable, however none attempt to combine the ship with the crew, or pursue the complete history of one ship. As the flagship of a prototypical class, intended to address French superiority in cruiser design, it is reasonable to expect that a history of Pallas would exist with some analysis of how successfully these new frigates fulfilled the Royal Navy’s perceived need. However, to date there has been no attempt to consolidate the evidence of her 26-year career. This study provides a comprehensive history of a single ship from perceived need and conceived solution through design and construction. The ship’s logbooks and additional primary sources made it possible to iv accurately document and analyze Pallas’ activities, maintenance, modifications, and ultimately to draw conclusions about the overall effectiveness of the frigate type. I began with basic background information to establish the perceived need for a new frigate type, followed by an examination of the conceived design solution. A partial set of admiralty drafts served as a foundation from which to develop a more complete set of construction plans, a spar plan, and rigging plans. Comprehensive research into life aboard Royal Navy warships of the period provided a social context within which to examine the service history of Pallas. Finally, a review of the maintenance record and the events leading up to her sinking enabled an informed assessment of how well HMS Pallas fulfilled the perceived need for which she was developed. v For Sam vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I gratefully acknowledge the support of my committee chair, Dr. Kevin J. Crisman for his encouragement and financial assistance, and Drs. James Bradford and Felipe Vieira de Castro for serving on my thesis committee. I would like to express my gratitude for the additional funding provided by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. I would also like to thank the research staff and librarians of the Public Record Office in London and the librarians at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Finally, I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to the Nautical Archaeology Program faculty and staff. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................ iii DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................ v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ x LIST OF MAPS ...................................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. xvi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION......................................................................................... 1 II HISTORICAL OVERVIEW......................................................................... 4 Geo-Political Context: Emergence of the Royal Navy in the 17th Century............................................................................................. 4 The Royal Navy as a Tool of Empire............................................... 6 III DEVELOPMENT OF THE 18th-CENTURY FRIGATE FORM ................. 10 British Cruiser Development............................................................ 11 The Establishments........................................................................... 14 French Influence on Royal Navy Cruiser Development .................. 15 Establishment Reforms..................................................................... 17 The Slade Era ................................................................................... 18 The True Frigate Form ..................................................................... 19 IV CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................... 21 Hull Construction ............................................................................. 24 A. Keel Assembly ............................................................... 24 B. Stem Assembly............................................................... 26 C. Sternpost Assembly........................................................ 27 D. Deadwood....................................................................... 30 E. Frames ............................................................................ 31 F. Keelson........................................................................... 35 G. Internal Planking ............................................................ 36 H. Deck Beams, Knees, Carlings, Ledges and Hooks......... 41 viii CHAPTER Page I. External Planking ........................................................... 46 J. Bitts, Partners, Capstans and Mast Steps........................ 49 K. Decking .......................................................................... 53 L. Hatches, Gratings, Ladder Ways and Scuttles................ 56 M. Pillars or Stanchions....................................................... 57 N. Quarter Galleries ............................................................ 58 O. Rudder and Tiller Assembly........................................... 59 P. Head................................................................................ 61 Finishing and Fittings....................................................................... 63 A. Bulkheads ....................................................................... 63 B. Magazine ........................................................................ 65 C. Shot Lockers................................................................... 66 D. Ordnance ........................................................................ 67 E. Pumps ............................................................................. 69 F. Ground Tackle................................................................ 71 G. Navigation and Communication..................................... 71 H. Galley ............................................................................. 73 I. Other Permanent Fixtures............................................... 73 J. Ballast............................................................................. 74 K. Ships’ Boats.................................................................... 75 L. Hull Protection ............................................................... 77 Spar Plan and Rigging Plan.............................................................. 78 A. Masts and Spars.............................................................. 79 B. Standing Rigging............................................................ 81 C. Running Rigging ............................................................ 83 V LIFE ABOARD AN 18TH-CENTURY ROYAL NAVY FRIGATE ............ 93 Entering the Service ......................................................................... 93 Shipboard Hierarchy, Duties and Responsibilities........................... 94 Pay and Benefits............................................................................... 101 Discipline and Punishment............................................................... 102 Accommodations.............................................................................. 103 Food.................................................................................................. 105 Dress................................................................................................