Instructions for Training a Ship’s Crew to the Use of Arms in Attack and Defence - An 1812 Naval Close Combat Treatise

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa

1812-year naval close-combat treatise on training a ship’s crew for armed attack and defence, focusing primarily on group melee tactics and practical instruction for boarding actions. Provides historical context on how inexperienced crews faced combat, while describing the discipline and organisation shaping British forces. Includes detailed discussion of relevant weapons such as cutlass, pistols, and muskets, with attention to period types and usage conditions. Features author background on William Pringle Green and explains transcription notes for accuracy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages48

Reading Time2 h 1 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

About the author of Instructions for Training a Ships Crew

Weapons relevant to this work

Cutlass

Pistol

Musket

Instructions for Training a Ship’s Crew to the use of Arms in Attack and Defence by Lieut. William Pringle Green, 1812. Presented by the Academy of Historical Fencing Transcribed by Nick Thomas, Alex Timmerman & Esther Gibson Copyright This transcription and restoration is brought to you by the Academy of Historical Fencing (UK), in collaboration with Krakan Swords (USA) . It is freely available for non-commercial use on the resources page of the AHF website ([swordfight.uk](swordfight.uk) ), alongside many other scans, transcriptions and workbooks on European swordsmanship. All images relating to William Pringle Green’s ‘Instructions for Training a ships crew to the use of Arms in Attack and Defence’remain the copyright of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, and are used in this work under fair use for research and educational purposes. This document may be shared for non-commercial research and educational purposes only. Transcription Notes This treatise is a handwritten journal from 1812. Every effort has been made to accurately transcribe this work. However, the archaic form, corrections and notes in the original work present a challenging task to interpret. This document will be updated as and when mistakes are identified, and corrections made. Please visit the AHF website to ensure you have the latest version. Please note the page numbers (in page headers) are also matched to the original work. Introduction Pringle Green’s work provides insight into naval boarding actions during an iconic period of British military history. His work paints a picture of how inexperienced and unsuitable many crews were when it came to combat, but also of the changing face of the armed forces of the period. This work highlights the discipline and organisation that was shaping the British forces of the period. For modern practitioners of martial arts (Historical European Martial Arts, or HEMA), this work provides an invaluable insight into the training and practices of naval close combat. This work is almost entirely orientated around group melee tactics and training. It does not include much information in the individual use of swords and methods of swordsmanship. However, for those wanting to practice these, there are a number of contemporary works that are well suited to this pursuit. These include Charles Roworth’s ‘Art of Defence on Foot’ first published in 1798, Angelo’s ‘Guards of Highland Broadsword’& ‘Manual & the Ten Divisions of Highland Broad Sword’, both published in 1799, as well as Angelo’s ‘Naval Cutlass Exercise’, published in 1813. All these works are applicable to the cutlass and all military swords used on foot in that period. These are all freely available at [swordfight.uk](swordfight.uk) About the author of‘Instructions for Training a Ships Crew’ William Pringle Green was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the third son of Benjamin Green, treasurer of that Canadian province. He entered the Navy in 1797 and served as a midshipman and later master's mate during the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he served aboard HMS Conqueror and played a part in capturing the French 'Bucentaure', flagship of the combined Franco-Spanish fleet. Promoted lieutenant in January 1806 he was later first lieutenant of the 'Eurydice' on the American station where, under Sir John Borlase Warren, he proposed methods to bring British firepower up to that of the American frigates that were to prove a bane in the War of 1812. His improvements in training were satisfactorily tested in his command of the brig'Resolute' in 1811-15. Green thereafter went ashore and devoted time to his inventions until appointed to William Pringle Green, 1806-1812 a Falmouth packet, 1829-32, and later reappointed a lieutenant in'Victory' at Portsmouth in 1842. Green had great mechanical ingenuity, he devoted his life to improvements in training ships crews, rigging, steering, gunnery and mechanical handling of heavy objects - many a

FAQs

What does the treatise emphasize about crew training and combat tactics?

It is almost entirely oriented around group melee tactics and training, providing insight into naval close combat practices.

Does the work cover individual sword use in detail?

It includes limited information on individual use of swords and methods of swordsmanship, and points readers to other contemporary works for that purpose.

Which weapons are described as relevant to the training and fighting context?

The text discusses cutlass, pistol, and musket, including period-appropriate types and practical details.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa