I'm game.
I was looking at the ship info in the other thread, and I was curious how accurate are the stats of guns, crew, etc. I used my new favorite tool for doing research, especially historical research: ChatGPT. I really recommend it for anyone doing any research for characters, because it always gives a good, probably correct answer. You wouldn't want to count on it for serious academic research, but for our sort of purposes, it's great. Here is what I asked (in bold) and its responses.
BTW, Our illustrious GM is spot on on his stats. (I might argue that the smaller ships should be more maneuverable than the larger ones, but since you have them all at 3, maybe you just haven't worked out that stat, yet.)
quote:
Describe the largest battleship in the British navy in 1797
ChatGPT
The largest battleship in the British Royal Navy in 1797 was HMS "Victory," a first-rate ship of the line. Launched in 1765, she had three masts and was armed with as many as 104 guns. Her design was based on dimensions of 186 feet (57 m) in length, with a 52-foot (16 m) breadth. She was a substantial presence in the navy and participated in several important naval battles, most notably the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 where Admiral Nelson was killed.
The ship was constructed primarily from oak and featured three gun decks. Her armaments generally consisted of 32-pounder and 12-pounder guns, as well as carronades for shorter-range engagements. She was manned by a crew of about 850 men.
HMS "Victory" served as the flagship for various admirals and is one of the most famous warships in naval history. As of my last update in September 2021, she was preserved as a museum ship at Portsmouth, England.
what's the breakdown of that crew?
ChatGPT
The crew complement of a first-rate ship of the line like HMS "Victory" was a complex organization designed to handle various aspects of the ship's operation, from navigation to armament. Here's a general breakdown:
Officers: Around 20-30
1 Captain
Several Lieutenants
Master (senior warrant officer responsible for navigation)
Purser (in charge of supplies)
Surgeon
Chaplain
Various midshipmen (trainee officers)
Seamen: Approx. 550-600
Able Seamen: Experienced sailors proficient in general seamanship
Ordinary Seamen: Less experienced, but still capable of various tasks
Landsmen: Inexperienced sailors, often just starting out
Marines: Around 100-150
Used for boarding actions, security, and to aid in the operation of the ship's guns.
Warrant Officers: 10-20
Boatswain: Responsible for sails, rigging, and the ship's hull
Gunner: In charge of the ship's armament
Carpenter: Took care of ship repairs and structural integrity
Cook, etc.
Petty Officers: 40-50
Included roles like Quartermasters (assisted with navigation), Master-at-Arms (ship's policeman), and others.
Various Servants and Boys: Around 30-40
Captain's Clerk
Servants for the officers
Powder Monkeys: Often young boys responsible for transporting gunpowder from the magazine to the gun decks during battle.
Supernumeraries: Variable number
These could be passengers, prisoners, or other non-crew members onboard for various reasons.
These numbers are approximations and could vary based on specific needs, the period, and other factors.
