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>Hi, > >Awhile back I found a copy of the courtmartial for the >loss of HMS Drake. See > >web.ukonline.co.uk/lost-mansfield/drake-court.htm > >per the testimony, the ship mounted 16 x 4 pounders on >the main deck and 4 x 4 pounders on the quarterdeck. >However, the quarterdeck was too “turtlebacked” to >fire the guns and all the guns seem to have been >lacking in breech preponderance (i.e. not enough extra >weight behind the trunions to keep the muzzle from >tilting down. Per Winfield the guns were the length >of a standard naval 3 pounder, and per the court >martial the guns were mounted on the ship when >purchased – commercial guns, not naval guns. Since >the ship had been in commission for a year, one must >wonder why this had not been corrected. > >The transcript makes interesting reading. One is left >to conclude that the commanding officer left much to >be desired and dying in action may have been the best >thing to happen to him. > >Carl

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