AON

Druxey Then modifications must have had been made to accommodate the extra two carronades on the forecastle. I presume this means cutting out a timberhead? I would hazard a guess - the one forward of the green arrow.

This is what I understand the classes to be and include Third rates of 74 guns (two-deckers) Bellona class (Slade) Bellona 74 (1760) – broken up 1814 Dragon 74 (1760) – sold 1784 Superb 74 (1760) – wrecked 1783 Kent 74 (1762) – sold 1784 Defence 74 (1763) – wrecked 1811 Third rates of 74 guns (two-deckers) Arrogant class (Slade) – modified Bellona class Arrogant 74 (1761) – broken up 1810 Cornwall 74 (1761) – scuttled/burnt 1780 Edgar 74 (1779) – broken up 1835 Goliath 74 (1781) – razéed to 58 guns 1813, broken up 1815 Zealous 74 (1785) – broken up 1816 Audacious 74 (1785) – broken up 1815 Elephant 74 (1786) – razéed to 58 guns 1818, broken up 1830 Bellerophon 74 (1786) – sold 1836 Saturn 74 (1786) – razéed to 58 guns 1813, broken up 1868 Vanguard 74 (1787) – broken up 1821 Excellent 74 (1787) – razéed to 58 guns 1820, broken up 1835 Illustrious 74 (1789) – wrecked 1795 Fourth rates of 60 guns (two-deckers) Edgar class (Slade) Edgar 60/64 (1758) – scuttled 1774 Panther 60 (1758) – broken up 1813 Firm 60 (1759) – sold 1791

So then, my Bellerophon. Yes, the two red arrows are the 9 pdrs. Where was the carronade installed that the Admiral said was also there? I say at the green arrow. Would you agree it is the only logical location?

It is a well worn path we've all walked... and some still are ( like myself). As George Bernard Shaw said: A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. Keeping moving forward. You will get better at every challenge.

Chapman: I thought both Vanguard and Edgar were Arrogant class ships. Druxey: You've also confused me. Are you addressing PQLear who reopened this thread with a question about Vanguard at the Battle of the Nile where Brian Lavery wrote she had 4 carronades and 2 long guns on the forecastle, or are you addressing me and my Bellerophon where an eyewitness, the son of the ship's gunner who both signed on with the first crew claimed she had 2 carronades and 4 x 9 pdrs on the forecastle?

Check RMG for armada class 74's and 9 drawings popped up with only 3 having images and these showed forcastle gun ports far forward. Checked Harold Underhill's drawings of a 74 dated 1813 and the gunports from sheet to sheet do not seem to agree or relate to each other but the one deck plan does seem to agree with my arrows above.

Carronades on the rear red and green for the Vanguard. The Bellerophon was arranged differently with only two carronades on the forecastle.

Just attended a Zoom meeting with the Society of Model Shipwrights (UK) this afternoon and an image of the forcastle of HMS Indefatigable filled my screen showing six guns. The two forward most were cannons and the four aft were carronades. What was of most interest was that the four forward were where guns should have been (red arrows) and the aft most gun was located one step aft from my green arrow in the image below. If a carronade were put on a 74 gun ship in that location it would blow out the rigging... the green arrow location misses the rigging but the rail needs to be cut out similar to the other locations. Problem solved!

Yes. I corrected it just now.

I have been steaming or soaking in boiling water then clamping in place with shims for a slight over bend to allow for spring back. Once dried overnight I glue with wood glue and clamp until set.

Chapman: Yes, I have that book also, but it doesn't have any detailed info on guns whereas the other does. Walter: Interesting. The forward position has less clearance aft of the gun, so I thought if it did replace a gun it might have gone there. Unfortunately the boy (then man) who was there at the time said all carronades were extra to the full 74 guns. I continue to try to find an image (painting or sketch) that might provide a clue, or better yet, written description to remove all doubt.

Lieste, I asked my question earlier and have copied below for two reasons: 1) there seems no place to add two carronades or "smashers" on the forecastle unless modifications are made, and 2) Rear Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh, Kt., R.N. who served on the Bellerophon as a "boy" and then midshipman while his father was the gunner (warrant officer), said the carronades were extra to the 74 guns and these extra carronades included six on the roundhouse and two on the forecastle. Source: Page 13 of From Powder Monkey to Governor by F. Stewart Hindmarsh, Access Press, 1995. ISBN 0 949795 88 7 So I ask again, which two guns on the forecastle were removed to be replaced with carronades and could you please quote the source, as I would like to add this information to my research. Thank you. Alan Were the the two forward or the two aft on the forecastle replaced?

Were the the two forward or the two aft on the forecastle replaced?

From my research/understanding for my build (HMS Bellerophon), they normally did not count carronades as "guns"... they were "extra" unless maybe they replaced the normal compliment of guns (?) which were said to be 28 each x 32 pdrs on the gundeck, 28 each x 18 Pdrs on the upper deck, 14 each x short 9 pdrs on the quarter deck and 4 each x long 9 Pdrs on the forecastle. Bellerophon was said to have had 2 each x 32 pdr carronades on the forecastle and 6 each x 18 pdr carronades on the Roundhouse (poopdeck). There was an AO 1779-07-16 establishing carronades of 18 and 12 pdr for all classes of ships, relaxed by the end of 1779 and by 1780, the actual fitting of authorised carronades was left to the discretion of the captain, to avoid unwanted disruption on the command deck, or interference with the rigging. By 1780-03-09 carronades fitted by application of the captain. Politics caused the ordnance board to recommend against carronades, the Admiralty dragging it's heels over forwarding this "finding" to the Navy board until several months after the report date (1780-10-21, forwarded 1780-12-15) Early evidence of the utility of the carronade in close action suggested that there was a use for them, and more experimentation was authorised as well as the optional use of carronades at the captain's request (including some fully carronade armed ships)... 1781-12-28, the Navy board recommended two 68 pdr carronades for those capable of supporting them, and 42 or 32 pdr carronades be allowed for smaller rates at the request of their captains. From 1794-11-24, a new carronade establishment replaced the earlier 1779 one, with a 74 being authorised 2 x 32 pdr and 6 x 18 pdr in this establishment. From 1798-03 (March) every line of battle ship was fitted to receive carronades on the fc/qtr deck. The Battle of the Nile was 1-3 August 1798.

I'll admit that I've got my fair share of badges of honour! Most decks had a rise to them. The mid width (over the keel) being higher than the outboard sides for water run off... plus the deck would be higher at the stem and stern then midships, for the same reason.