Man Of War

For a full five minutes Peto spoke the language of the sea, so that a midshipman of the most elementary schooling might consider himself able to assume the position of sailing-master – or even pilot. ‘You will thus appreciate, gentlemen, why with such prevailing winds the admiral concludes it would be nigh impossible to maintain a blockade through the coming season.’

Heads nodded. It was long years since the Royal Navy had practised blockade, especially winter blockade – storm-tossed ships, ever watchful. Nor, indeed, would blockade prevent a Turkish army from marauding in the Morea itself.

‘The admiral has therefore concluded, in concert with the French and Russian commanders-in-chief, that the combined squadrons shall enter the bay of Navarino tomorrow – la mèche à la main, so to speak – and dispose themselves in such a way as to make clear to the Turkish admiral that he must at once comply with the terms of the ceasefire, and sail his ships to whence they came, Constantinople or Alexandria.’

There was general approbation. Peto nodded to his signal midshipman, who then unrolled another chart, on which was drawn large in charcoal the bay and the dispositions of the Ottoman fleet.

‘Gentlemen, you perceive that the admiral’s intelligence is most particular.’

They did indeed, for the dispositions were in the greatest detail: every man-of-war by name.

‘The Ottoman fleet consists in all of three ships of the Line, each of seventy-four guns, some twenty frigates, thirty or so corvettes, half a dozen brigs or sloops and five fireships. They are arranged in what might be called a horseshoe in the space enclosed by the citadel, the small island, and Sphacteria – which on some charts is rendered “Sphagia”.’ He indicated each with his finger. ‘In the front line, at a distance of about two cables apart, they have moored their battle-ships and most powerful frigates. In the second line, covering the intervals of the first line, they have placed the rest of the frigates and the most powerful corvettes, these latter being reinforced by a third line of corvettes. There are fireships placed at the two ends of the arc – two of them on the side of New Navarin, and three under the island of Sphacteria, protected by its battery.’

There was much nodding of heads. The Ottoman fleet did not possess so many ships of the Line as the French at the Nile, but the dispositions here were altogether stronger.

‘You will perceive, however, that the right wing is rather less powerful than the left. This we may suppose is because the Turks imagine that since the right wing faces the entrance of the bay, the main weight of any attack, taking advantage of the wind, will be directed to the left wing.’

They all nodded.

‘Now, gentlemen, Sir Edward Codrington’s design . . .’

Peto spoke for a quarter of an hour. He told them that the French admiral would place his squadron abreast of the Egyptian ships to the south-east. These, he said, were the ones on which the French advisors were still embarked. Codrington’s own squadron would anchor abreast of the Turkish ships to the west, and the Russian squadron next in succession, the Ottoman 74s each being matched by an allied two-decker. The allies were to moor – supposing there was no hostility committed against them – with spring anchors, just as had the Turks. ‘No gun is to be fired from the combined fleet without a signal being made for that purpose,’ he added gravely, taking his finger from the chart at last, as if he had come to the end of his orders. ‘Unless, that is, shot be fired by a Turk . . . in which case the ships so firing are to be destroyed immediately.’

There was a deal more acclamation, until it dawned on each of the officers that Peto had said nothing of Rupert’s place in the enterprise. The quizzical looks returned.

‘And so, gentlemen, to our own part. Once the combined fleet has entered the bay, we shall take station at the entrance in such a manner as to suggest that a further squadron of first-rates is disposed ready for action: there’ll be sloops showing their tops on the horizon. The Turkish admiral shall therefore be obliged to put from his mind any thoughts of resistance which his mere numerical superiority might tempt.’

The stratagem met with approval.

Peto stepped back from the table. ‘I trust thereby that the design is entirely clear, gentlemen?’

Heads nodded.

‘Very well. Now, it is possible that these Turks will attempt to quit the bay under cover of darkness, without obligation to leave Greek waters. Lookouts are therefore to be doubled. All hands shall be piped to stations at first light. If there is no signal from the flagship within one hour, I shall have them piped down again, to breakfast. After breakfast we shall clear for action.’

The words ‘clear for action’ struck home, with relish and apprehension in equal measure on the assembled faces.

‘And an extra tot of rum for each man to toast the Immortal Memory!’