All 9 parts, explained
1. Cannon
Each cannon is a heavy iron tube. The biggest ones on the ship weighed more than two cars.
Fun fact A ship of the line carried about 100 cannons on its three gun decks.
2. Gun carriage
The cannon sits on a wooden carriage with four small wheels, called trucks, so the crew could move it in and out.
Fun fact The carriages were often painted red.
3. Gun port
The square opening in the side of the ship is a gun port. Its heavy lid could be closed to keep the sea out.
Fun fact On the lowest deck, the gun ports were only a little above the waves.
4. Tackle
Ropes and pulleys, called tackle, hold each cannon in place and help the crew pull it back and forth.
Fun fact A loose cannon rolling on a moving deck was very dangerous, so every gun was tied down when not in use.
5. Coiled ropes
Ropes are coiled neatly on the deck so that nobody trips over them and they are ready to use.
Fun fact Sailors kept their decks very tidy and scrubbed them clean almost every morning.
6. Gun crew
Each cannon needed a team of sailors to look after it. They also lived, ate and slept on this deck.
Fun fact Each gun crew practised often, so that every sailor knew his job.
7. Mop and bucket
The deck was washed with water and scrubbed with mops and blocks of sandstone called holystones.
Fun fact Holystones were called that because sailors knelt down to use them.
8. Powder magazine
Down below, deep in the ship, is the powder magazine, where gunpowder was stored safely.
Fun fact Gunpowder was carried up to the gun decks in closed wooden or leather cases.
9. Carpenter's workshop
Nearby, the ship's carpenter has a workbench full of tools for repairing the ship.
Fun fact The carpenter was one of the most important people on board, because the whole ship was made of wood.
