System of penalties on large English ships in the 18th century.

Service at sea in the 18th century was not the easiest one, Especially if the fleet of a given country took part in frequent clashes. One of such countries was England, leading heavy buoys in the seas and oceans during this period. It was England that was largely dependent on maritime trade, Unlike other coastal countries, such as. France, which material benefits mainly derived by land.
The English fleet, unlike earlier English-Spanish and English-Dutch wars, mainly fulfilled defensive functions . They consisted in ensuring the protection of their own commercial shipping and blocking the French fleet in its home ports to prevent sales of commercial ships and transfer French troops to the territory of the British Isles. To achieve this goal, the right naval forces were needed consisting of well -armed and modern ships. These ships, belonging to the largest units in their time also needed an efficient crew which in the hardest conditions could not fail.
To better understand the issues of the penalty system for 18 -century sailing ships, you must briefly characterize tactics and living conditions on this type of floating units. These two issues are important, Because in addition to other factors they were the most influenced the criminal record system of sailors.
With the advent of the era of great sailing ships, A new sea struggle tactics have appeared replacing the existing Korski system, bearing maneuvering tactics. This tactic also required a high level of training from crews . To implement its assumptions, well -trained captains were also needed. If the commanders did not understand each other perfectly, The style of the ships broke and the battle turned into separate, single clashes and did not give the desired results.
To prevent this in linear tactics, many bans have been introduced . The line of line was absolutely observed. Each ship commander was appointed a place in the line and a ship with which he could fire. The ships also had to have the same speed and armament so that they could efficiently perform maneuvers in accordance with the orders transferred from the flagship . Leaving the line was one of the biggest offenses, threatening to the court . In such conditions, there was a great responsibility at the ship's commander. It translated into severity towards the crew, on which he literally and figuratively a huge burden of ship service during the clash.
Above, Although the outline of tactics presented in a nutshell allows to clearly state, that compared to the tactics, the earlier duties of the Captain of the War were radically increased. Until now, any conduct of the Korsar war has changed to a strictly ordered tactics, which can work efficiently only when all parts of it harmonized with each other.

The dissatisfaction of the sailors, and thus the reason for rebellions also caused living conditions, which should also be presented briefly.
The crews of sailing ships were often aggressive people and removed from the right. This was happening because there was a significant shortage of floating staff, whose number fell after each battle. When the number of crews was insufficient, Volunteers were sought first among sailors of commercial ships, And then wherever it was possible. Kidnapping or abduction of people with alcohol was the most commonly used funds . The preserved files were calculated that in 1779 year during the greatest intensification of the war with the United States of North America, the cost of North America was at the expense 106 pounds of sterling 1019 officers and armed helpers were made by branas 21367 people .
Completing the full crew was a real task, because the large ship had about 700-800 sailors . Service on the ship was long, A one -time stay of sailors on the unit lasted on average 3-4 lata. On some ships even longer. Even when only one journey was involved, Zamustrazing was important for months and even for years
There was an indescribable piston and crush in rooms for the crew. There wasn't even a place to hang hammocks for everyone . Trading to the left or right side took place to the command. In the lower parts of the ship there was an odor and stench, but even worse was the carbon dioxide accumulated there, which led to poisoning and was a threat to life.
Several of the above fragments from the sailor's life I give the atmosphere of conditions, which were unimaginably difficult and provoked to violate all bans, what was reflected in the punishment methods.

The discipline on the sailing ship of the 18th century was generally raw, Sometimes almost as strict as on the Mediterranean rowing galler .
At the eighteenth and nineteenth century sailing ships, it was usually punished on board, at the main mast, in the presence of the entire crew. The contractors were usually the closest colleagues .
The whole range of penalties remained at the captain's disposal, which were so cruel ,that enforcement of them exposed the punishment to permanent disability, and even death.