Bonus X points for World Building (OOC)
I've had a look at this (and copied/edited some stuff from the internet). One of the issues is the HMS Boudica is a "fantasy" design and most descriptions online refer to real ships from the era ... but I don't think this is too far off.
HMS BOUDICA
POOP DECK
The highest deck on the ship, the unarmed poop deck was used mainly by officers. From here, the signal lieutenant hauled up flags to signal to nearby vessels.
QUARTERDECK
The elevated rear portion is the Quarterdeck. The Captain would be based here during a battle. The quarter deck was also normally reserved for the officers. The Captain slept in a cabin at the stern of ths deck so he could be on hand quickly in an emergency. The quarter deck was armed with 12 cannons. They were called 12 pounders because they each fired an orange sized cannonball weighing approximately 12 pounds (5.5 kg).
FORECASTLE DECK (optional)
This raised deck covered the main deck at the bows. Gangways linked it to the quarter deck. Many of the ship's sails were controlled from here, and there were four guns as well. Two were cannonades, or "smashers", a type of short gun firing a heavy shot. They were most effective at short range. A man-of-war might carry two huge 68-pounder (31 kg) carronades.
> I don't think the Bodica has a Fo'c'sle deck; we could move the cannonades to the main deck.
MAIN DECK or UPPER GUN DECK
Above the gun deck is the Main Deck which would serve or depending on the exact layout or preferred terminology also be the Spar Deck or weather deck, as it will be the top most continuous and exposed to the elements. It can also and usually would carry guns, but typically of a lighter build, smaller size, or different design like a Carronade. Unlike the lower and middle decks, this deck was open to the weather. Three of the man-of-war's small boats sat on cradles attached to the beams which crossed over the open space. It was armed with the 24-pounder guns - nine along each side!
GUN DECK or MIDDLE GUN DECK
The lighter 24-pounder guns on the middle deck fired smallish 11 kg balls, the size of a grapefruit. There were twelve guns on each side, and many of the crew slept and ate here. The galley, the ship's kitchen, was located here, too. At the stern the officers had their cabins and wardroom (dining/living room).
CREW DECK or LOWER GUN DECK
So the lowest level with guns from bow to stern would be the Lower Gun Deck. Down each side there were twelve 32-pounder cannons, which fired 14 kg balls the size of a coconut. When the ship was not fighting in a battle, many of the seamen hung their hammocks between the beams of this deck.
ORLOP DECK
The orlop deck got its name from a Dutch word meaning "overlap", because this deck overlapped the hold. This deck was primarily used for storage, and for the offices of some of the ship's crew who needed access to the hold, such as the purser and carpenter.
HOLD
Located at the very bottom of the ship, the hold was like a giant warehouse. Here the crew stored provisions for the voyage, such as all the food and drink they would require, iron cannonballs, spare ropes and sails, and materials for repairing any damages experienced while at sea.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:56, Tue 14 Nov 2023.