Sailing and Fighting Instructions for His Majesty's Fleet.

SIGNALS
To be observed
At an Anchor, in Weighing Anchor, in Sailing and Anchoring in the Night-time.

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

INSTR. I.
To Unmoor and Ride short. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to Unmoor, and ride short, he will hang out three Lights, on over another, in the Main-top-mast-shrowds, over the constant Light in the Main-top, and fire two Guns; which are to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet; and every private Ship is to hang out a Light in the Mizen-shrowds.
II.
To Weigh. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to weigh, he will hang a Light in the Main-top-mast-shrowds, and fire a Gun; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships in the Fleet; and every private Ship is to hang a Light in his Mizen-shrowds.
III.
To Tack. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to Tack, he will hoist two Lights on the Ensign-staff, one over the other, above the constant Light on the Poop, and fire a Gun; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet; and every Ship on the Fleet is to hang out a Light extraordinary, which is not to be takem in till the Admiral takes his in. After the Signal is made, the Leewardmost and Sternmost are to tack as fast as they can; and the Sternmost Flag-ship, after he is about upon the other Tack, is to lead the Fleet, whom they are to follow, to avoid running through one another in the Night.
IV.
To Wear and bring to. When the Admiral is upn a Wind, and would have the Fleet wear and bring to on the other Tack, he will hoist up one Light at the Mizen-peek, and fire three Guns, which is to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet, and every private Ship to answer with one Light at the Mizen-peek. The Sternmost and Leewardmost Ships are to near up so soon as the Signal is made.
V.
To lie a-trey or a-hull. When the Admiral would have the Fleet (in blowing Weather) to lie a-trey, short, or a-hull, or the Head-sails braced to the Mast, he will shew four Lights of equal Height, and fire five Guns; which are to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet; and every Ship in the Fleet is to shew four Lights.
VI.
To make Sail after lying a-trey. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to make Sail after lying a-trey, short, or a-hull, or the Head-sails to the Mast, he will fire ten Guns; which are to be answered by every Flag-ship of the Fleet: Then the Headmost and Weathermost Ships are to make sail first.
VII.
To bring to and lie by after sailing large, or before the Wind. When the Fleet is sailing large or before the Wind, and the Admiral would have them bring to, and lie-by with their Starboard Tacks aboard, he will put abroad four Lights in the Fore-shrowds, and fire six Guns; but if with the Larboard Tacks aboard, eight Guns; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet; and every private Ship is to answer with four Lights, (it being the same that is in the fourth Article for bringing to in a Fog) and the Windermost Ships are to bring to first.
VIII.
To alter the Course. If the Admiral alter his Course, he will fire one Gun, (without Alteration of Lights;) which is to be answer'd by the Flagships of the Fleet.
IX.
Upon a particular Ship's lying bt after the Fleet makes Sail. When a Ship has Occasion to lie short, or by, after the Fleet has made Sail, he is to fire one Gun, and shew three Lights in the Mizen-shrowds.
X.
Upon Discovery of Land or Danger. When any one discovers Land or Danger, he who first discovers it, is to shew as many Lights as he can, and fire one Gun, and tack, or bear away from it.
XI.
Springing a Leake. In Case of springing a Leake, or any other Disaster that disables your Ship from keeping Company, you are to hang out two Lights of equal Height, and fire Guns till you are relieved by some Ship in the Fleet.
XII.
Upon losing Company and meeting again. If any Ship lose Company, and meet again, he who hails first shall ask, What Ship's That? And he who is hail'd shall answer,

The other who hail'd firstm shall reply,

The he who was first hail'd shall answer,

XIII.
Upon Discovery of a Fleet. When any discovers a Fleet, he shall fire Guns, make flase Fires, put a Light on the Main-top, three on the Poop, steer after them, and continue firing Guns: But if the Admiral should steer another Course, and fire one, two, or three Guns, (which is to call him off) then he is to follow the Admiral.
XIV.
For Anchoring. When the Admiral chanceth to Anchor, he will fire two Guns, a small Space of Tme one from the other; which are to be answered by every Flag-ship in the Fleet; and every private Ship is to shew two Lights.
XV.
To Moor. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to Moor, he will put a Light on each Top-mast-head, and fire a Gun; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships in the Fleet; and every private Ships is to shew one Light.
XVI.
To lower Yards and Top-masts. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to lower their Yards and Top-masts, he will hoist one Light upon his Ensign-staff, and fire one Gun; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet; and every private Ship to shew one Light.
XVII.
To hoist Yards and Top-masts. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to hoist their Yards and Top-masts, he will put abroad two Lights, one under the other in the Mizen-top-mast-shrowds, and fire one Gun; which is to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet; and every private Ship to have one Light in their Mizen-shrowds.
XVIII.
Not to suffer any strange Ship to pass through the Fleet. When any Ship shall be discovered coming into the Fleet, the Ship that is next to her shall endeavour to speak with her and bring her to an Anchor, and not suffer her to pass through the Fleet: But in Case any one discovers a Fleet, and it blows so hard that he cannot come to give the Admiral timely Notice, he is to hang a great Number of Lights out, and to continue firing Gun after Gun, till the Admiral answers him with one.
XIX.
The Fleet to Cut or Ship. When the Admiral would have the Fleet to Cut or Slip, he will hang out four Lights, one at each Main-yard-arm, and at each Fore-yard-arm, and fire two Guns; which are to be answered by the Flag-ships of the Fleet; and every private Ship is to shew one Light.

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

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius


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