HMS Renown

HMS Renown is a third-rate British man-of-war, a two-decker with 74 guns. The ship's complement is 740 souls, of which 20 are officers and 80 are marines. About half of the 640 crew are seasoned seamen and the other half are pressed lubbers. Thirty-four of the 74 guns are twenty-four pounder carronades on the lower deck; these guns are usually crewed by ten men apiece but can be operated by five men in extremis. The ship also carries 9-pounder long guns on the upper deck. When the novel opens the ship is commanded by Captain Sawyer; at the close of the novel the ship is commanded by Captain Cogshill. The named lieutenants are, in order of decreasing seniority, Buckland; Roberts, killed in action during the attack on Santo Domingo; William Bush; Smith; and Horatio Hornblower. Midshipmen include Abbott, Truscott, and Cope. The ship has at least one volunteer named Wellard. Warrant and...