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Nelson and His Navy - Firing Sequence

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Introduced into the Royal Navy during the Seven Years War, subsequently published in 1769 in Falconer's Marine Directory and superceded by the first Admiralty printed orders in 1817. Prior to this date more complex orders can be found in William Mountaine's "The Practical Sea-Gunner's Companion" - 1747.

Assuming the guns are already loaded and stowed away - which was usual practice at sea, this is the sequence for firing one shot, clearing, reloading and stowing the gun away loaded.


1. SILENCE!
2. CAST LOOSE YOUR GUN!
3. LEVEL YOUR GUN!
4. TAKE OUT YOUR TAMPION!
5. PRIME!
6. RUN OUT YOUR GUN!
7. POINT YOUR GUN!
8. FIRE!
9. WORM AND SPONGE!
10. LOAD WITH CARTRIDGE!
11. LOAD WITH SHOT AND WAD TO YOUR SHOT!
12. RAM HOME SHOT AND WAD!
13. PUT IN YOUR TOMPION!
14. HOUSE YOUR GUN!
15. SECURE YOUR GUN!