Aug 19, 2012 · Constitution’s orlop deck, three levels down in the ship, held all the food, water and supplies. To learn where everything was stored, use a plan of Constitution’s orlop deck to color and fit together a puzzle.

Constitution’s orlop deck, three levels down in the ship, held all the food, water and supplies.To learn where everything was stored, use a plan of Constitution’s orlop deck to color and fit together a puzzle.

In his quarters at the stern of ship, the captain enjoys a luxury that everyone else aboard lacks: space. In this roomy, calm, comfortable cabin, he plans the ship’s route, and makes decisions that might win or lose a battle – or a war.

On the decks above, cannon and musket fire do murderous jobs, but here in the cockpit everyone works to save lives, not to take them.

Mealtime on the Berth Deck Illustration [featured_image] Download. Version

Thick ropes controlled them, yet with every shot they jerked and lurched, threatening to break loose. Constant training taught each member of the gun crew his job in handling these hot, heavy beasts. Yet nothing could really quite prepare him for the smoke, the noise, the blood and the deadly flying splinters of the gun deck in battle.

feet above the deck. The sails they set (spread out) or reefed and furled (pulled in) could weigh half a ton even when dry, and twice that when soaked with rain. More details on usscm.org

Howitzers of this size were often used like a big shotgun, firing canister or grape shot that could cover a large swath of the enemy deck. More details on usscm.org View and Download

During battle, Marines (and other crewmembers of Constitution) were stationed approximately 85’ to 90’ above the spar deck on the Maintop, a platform attached to the main mast of the Ship. Keeping their feet on steady ground was a challenge as Constitution swayed in the sea.

Keeping them that way is the seamen’s’ most unpopular chore. They do it by scrubbing the planks with “holystones” – great slabs of gritty rock. Smaller “prayer books” clean the tight corners. Sprinkling the deck with salt water and coarse sand helps smooth the timbers.