D
DAM to DEAD-WORK
DECKS to DEPTH of a sail
DETACHMENT of a fleet or squadro to DOCK-YARDS
DETACHMENT of a fleet or squadro
DIFFERENCE of latitude
DINNAGE
DISABLED
To DISCHARGE
DISMASTED
DIVISION
DOCK
DOCKING
DOCK-YARDS
DOG to DOWN-HAUL-TACKLE
To DOWSE to DRIVING
DROP to DUNNAGE
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DIVISION
DIVISION, a select number of ships in a fleet or squadron of men of war, distinguished by a particular flag or pendent, and usually commanded by a general officer. A squadron is commonly ranged into three divisions, the commanding officer of which is always stationed in the center.When a fleet consists of sixty sail of the line, that is, of ships having at least sixty cannon each, the admiral divides it into three squadrons, each of which has it's divisions and commanding officers. Each squadron has it's proper colours, according to the rank of the admiral who commands it, and every division it's proper mast. Thus, the white flag denotes the first squadron of France; the white and blue the second, and the third is characterised by the blue. In England, the first admiral, or the admiral of the fleet, displays the union flag at the main-top-mast-head; next follows the white flag with St. George's cross; and afterwards the blue. The private ships carry pendents of the same colour with their respective squadron, at the masts of their particular divisions; so that the last ship in the division of the blue squadron carries a blue pendent at her mizen-top-masthead.
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© Derived from Thomas Cadell's new corrected edition, London: 1780, page 100, 2003
Prepared by Paul Turnbull
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0433.html