How do you Steer a Ship of the Line?

NOTE: It should be said that while this video provides a good image of how the rudder on a ship works, the actual steering of a ship was not only up to the control of the rudder. Rather, the ship's sails were also very important in the steering and control of a ship. My apologies for that mix up.

We're all familiar with the image of a ship's wheel. Alongside actual sails, they're one of the most iconic symbols from the Age of Sail and the Georgian Navy. But how do these wooden wheels actually connect to the ships rudder, so far away? How do they steer a ship, and just how delicate a system was it?

To answer these questions, we go to HMS Victory, a First Rate Ship of the Line from the Long 18th Century, and Nelson's flagship at the famous Battle of Trafalgar.

If you would like to support the Channel on Patreon:
-
- -
- -
This video was made in support of The Native Oak. Learn more about our educational mission here:

If you'd like to support the channel, please consider giving on Patreon,

You can follow me on social media too!

[SomeNavySEALs]

1000+ hours in Her Majesty's Royal Painting Software.

[kylebroflovski]

As someone studying engineering at uni I can say that diagram is perfect. Simple and effective.

[JariB.]

Brandon, I'm sorry to say this; But I must correct you to some extend.

A ship, especially a sailing ship, is steered mainly by the sails. The rudder is merely a secondary help, but is not actually able to steer the ship entirely on it's own. It merely supports the hull moving along with the sails.

In earlier periods, the system was, as you know, quite different. Having a vertical beam one would hold on to, rather than a wheel (Now I must apologize for not knowing the exact English terminology).

I work on a historical shipyard in the Netherlands (the Bataviawerf, now part of Batavialand) where we have a fully accurate replica of a Dutch 17th century East-Indiaman (The Batavia, 1627-1628), which is still steered by such a beam (and sails, as mentioned).
Feel free to come and have a look at her whenever you find yourself able to do so, I will gladly show you around if you'd like.
Though I am afraid that in about 7 months I myself will find myself across the channel in England for a few years, rather than in the Netherlands, and thus would be unable to directlt recieve you if you were to indeed pay a visit someday.

[GeneralKaleRan]

4:17 I refuse to believe you didn't have a 10 group team of animaters

[peterblood]

More Royal Navy of the late 1700's and early 1800's. No one is doing these kinds of educational videos on it. Many questions to be answered and topics to be explored. Kudos on going there. =)

[AsterixKearn]

"How do you steer a ship of the line?"
...Carefully.




Jokes aside, good video mate. :3

[WardenWolf]

The reason for the dual wheels at the top was to allow a second person to assist with the steering. Also, it would be possible to use pullies to amplify the force applied by the wheel. It looks like Victory utilized this to some extent, although it's hard to see.

[peterbrown]

Next time you visit the UK go to Harlepool, they have the oldest floating war ship (Victory being in dry dock). It is surrounded by museums and displays and has a detachment of marines who give firepower demonstrations. The ship itself has a audio guide. Well worth a visit.

[WardMan]

The build up to that diagram was fantastic 😂, but on a serious note this was very interesting. I have always wondered how these old ships worked. It’s both simple and complex. A truly beautiful piece of engineering.

[alexwhite]

First of all: yes we do all say wheel occasionally but the proper term is: Helm

[Theguyunderyourbed]

I recently visited Victory just last week. It's under restoration work and the masts and bowsprit have been removed and the entire exterior is covered by scaffolding and tarps but the interior is still very much accessible and definitely worth the visit. A very kind tour guide took the time to show me the rear area where the tiller (now removed) was and told me the same story about how it was manually steered. She also told me that the wheel generally took 8 men to turn though that was dependent on conditions.
It's a great ship and definitely worth a visit, even if someone is not particularly interested in ships. You won't find many ships like it still around I can tell you that.

[bobbobskin]

I want to be contradictory to some of the comments which have been posted here, but I can't be bothered being individually contradictory to each of them, who argue that it was a poor system. The use of rope and chain linkage to control the tiller continued primarily because it worked, exhibiting both mechanical effectiveness, and was also *repairable*. If the rope snapped, you could let another loop out, (which would decrease steering effectiveness due to less friction) tie the rope back together again, using the lengths let out, re-tension it, and continue sailing whilst at sea. If a tensioner broke, you could jerry something to tension the rope or pull lengths back in. Mechanical linkages (such as screws and cogs) if they break, need replacing with the right part which needs to be manufactured, and which needs to be delivered to you.
The US Navy manual on towing boats SL740-AA-MAN-010 issued 1 JULY 2002 has a short section on what to do if the military ship you are towing has damaged tiller controls, recommending using chains rather than steel ropes, should they have broken, if possible. see s 5-7.6 Locking the Rudder
Simply put, if a "ship of the line" was at sea, it needed to be able to make ad hoc repairs without going back to port (most difficult without steering), and without requiring another ship to be sent to rescue it (given that locating a ship somewhere in the ocean outside visual range without radio is not an easy task... It would need to be realised it went missing first), and this, my dear friends, was the reason that the decision was made (at least by the Admiralty) that it was preferable to use ropes on ships for tiller control, and later, cables and chain, far later than the date when other systems were technically feasible.
The British Empires warships were designed with survivability and repairability in mind, because help was not "coming"

[chaplainjamesthicc]

I have a feeling that 2018 will be a very good year for learning about history. The community on youtube has grown immensely on all history related channels over the past few years, new channels are popping up left and right. And best of all there seems to be a level of communication between channels and their viewers that we've probably never seen before.

Great video, hope to see more naval related stuff on this channel.

[lexas]

Without a rudder the ship cannot sail against the wind, so the rudder is essential for navigation. Good stuff, keep it coming.

[ashleyradwell]

HMS victory is a beautiful ship she deserves to feel the ocean around her hips again ..fine video mate 😉

[AA-wdor]

I love your down to eart practical history videos, thank you for good work

[RealKynan]

This is a terribly underrated channel. Keep up at the bloody good content, mate.

[SultanOfAwesomeness]

I have the sudden urge to watch hornblower again.

[Edro]

Very well done and informative video, The HMS Victory was state of the art technology in her day.

[RAGEKG]

Yo this has genuinely been a question of mine. Thanks for answering! Just recently stumbled upon your colonial camo vid and i gotta say man good stuff!!!