XXXI.  If Signal 27, to break through the enemy’s line, be made without a ‘red pennant’ being hoisted, it is evident that to obey it the line of battle must be entirely broken; but if a ‘red pennant’ be hoisted at either mast-head, that fleet is to preserve the line of battle as it passes through the enemy’s line, and to preserve it in very close order, that such of the enemy’s ships as are cut off may not find an opportunity of passing through it to rejoin their fleet.

If a signal of number be made immediately after this signal, it will show the number of ships of the enemy’s van or rear which the fleet is to endeavour to cut off.  If the closing of the enemy’s line should prevent the ships passing through the part pointed out, they are to pass through as near to it as they can.

If any of the ships should find it impracticable, in either of the above cases, to pass through the enemy’s line, they are to act in the best manner that circumstances will admit of for the destruction of the enemy.

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] Similar but not identical instructions are referred to in the Signal Book of 1790.  The above were reproduced in all subsequent editions till the end of the war.

[2] ‘Ships to leeward to get in the admiral’s wake.’

[3] The instructions referred to are the ’General Instructions for the conduct of the fleet.’  They are the first of the various sets which the Signal Book contained, and relate to books to be kept, boats, keeping station, evolutions and the like.  Article IX. is ’If from any cause whatever a ship should find it impossible to keep her station in any line or order of sailing, she is not to break the line or order by persisting too long in endeavouring to preserve it; but she is to quit the line and form in the rear, doing everything she can to keep up with the fleet.’

[4] See at p. 235, as to the new sailing formation in three columns.

[5] It should be noted that this is an important advance on the corresponding Article IX. of the previous instructions, and that it contains a germ of the organisation of Nelson’s Trafalgar memorandum.

[6] The continued insistence on fireship tactics in this and Articles XX. and XXI. should again be noted, although from 1793 to 1802 the number of fireships on the Navy List averaged under four out of a total that increased from 304 to 517.

[7] It should be remembered that at this time there were no davits and no boats hoisted up.  They were all carried in-board.

[8] This is a considerable modification of the signification of the signal; see supra, p. 263.

NELSON’S TACTICAL MEMORANDA

INTRODUCTORY