It was up to individual owners to fit their ships with weapons – that would inevitably mean what they could afford.
   
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping shows the armaments.  For this period they may be found [you will have to scroll down the page] here:

https://hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/archive-library/lloyds-register-of-ships-online

– see as example =
https://archive.org/details/HECROS1780/page/n7/mode/2up

Column 7 shows the name of the owners, and some entries also shows the armament

According to David Syrett [Shipping and the American War],  which studies the hiring of  ships to transport stores or troops to North America, they initially had difficulty in getting shipowners to arm their ships at all.    This was because it would contravene an Order which prohibited the export of guns and ordnance stores to America.   Syrett states that most ships going to America 1775 – 76 were unarmed.   After 1776 an Order in Council lifted the restriction.

 After this, for merchant ships hired for service as transports or to carry  stores for the Government, then the Admiralty did lay down a minimum – owners should arm ships with “at least six carriage guns of six pounders or less bore, according to the size of the ship”  and later  [1779] allowed shipowners to fit carronades ‘not less than 12 pounders’
Looking  at the details of those vessels either taken into Naval service, or hired as a cargo/troop transport, then it would seem that the usual calibre was 4- or 6- pounders, although some were able to carry 9-pounders.  The number carried seems to have increased, but would obviously depend on the size of the ship.
 For examples, see:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10608746

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10609363

During the American War of Independence, with what ordnance were merchant ships armed (to protect themselves from Aermican privateers)?

Greetings

I am researching the Hallamshire battalion (York & Lanc's Regt.)
Seeking information on the landing craft that carried them to Gold Beach.  They embarked on D+3 in 5 LCI(L)'s from Newhaven Hard and disembarked on maybe Gold Jig but not sure.  What flotilla and craft carried them.

While waiting to move from Newhaven, the Commanding Officer and a couple of others spent their free time producing a battalion battle flag from scrap material.  The flag flew from the mast head of the LCI all the way through to Germany at every Bn HQ.

Any help appreciated - than you.

I am planning on building a large (1:96) model of HMS Warspite (03) one day and have busied myself lately doing research so that I can build her in as much detail as possible.

The obstacle I am coming up against is that although I have several authoritative books on Warspite, some of which contain construction plans, when they show a standard product, such a rigging insulator or an electronic steaming light, no detail is given but a note will say something like 'patt. xxxx' referring to an Admiralty pattern number for that product.

Also, any aerials are usually referred to with a code such as 48C or 49C which I am guessing is a reference to the material and thickness.

I have tried to find a reference or index for these patterns and codes but to no avail so my question would be: Where would I be able to look up Admiralty pattern numbers and see detailed drawings or descriptions of the product?

I am modelling Warspite as she was in early 1942 so the references, if they exist will be from this time period.

Any help appreciated.

Darwin Army News, Sunday, 12, August 1945.

Seafire Mark 15
London, Saturday. Details of Britons most deadly Fleet Air Arm Fighter, the Seafire, Mark 15 were released by the British Admiralty today (Saturday, 11, August 1945).

APA citation
DEADLY SEAFIRE (1945, August 12). Army News (Darwin, NT : 1941 - 1946), p. 1. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47722886


The Sun, 17, July 1945.
British and US Fleets Open Vast Attack on Tokyo.
The US Third Fleet and a British task force which includes the battleship King George V and Carrier Formidable, have launched carrier attacks in great strength.

APA citation
BRITISH-U. S. FLEETS OPEN VAST ATTACK ON TOKIO (1945, July 17). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 1 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved October 8, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230447493


Philip L

I have come across this excellent photo of Submarine H33 and crew in what must be 1926-27. The two officers are Lt C deS Brock (in command -right) and Lt Richard Sheridan-Patterson [his record shows  as with H25 at this time..]. Maybe at Portland with 6th Submarine Flotilla??

The Royal Navy and the Falklands War.
David Brown (Head of the Naval Historical Branch)
First Published 1987.

I bought this secondhand book at the RSPCA opportunity shop here in Adelaide, South Australia for $3.

Information from the front cover overlap.

In this book David Brown, head of what was formerly the Naval Historical Branch at the Ministry of Defence, tells in full for the first time the extraordinary story of how the fleet was assembled; of how merchant ships from luxury liners such as the Canberra to cargo ships of every description were 'Taken Up From Trade' and, in a staggeringly short time, converted in to their new role.

A Google search of this book title brings up a wide range of different prices and information about the book. 

Philip L

Thank you PhiloNauticus for prompt and helpful reply.
I agree that what I see is 5yrs.
I read that the Warrior was deployed to the Far East at this time. This explains some Japanese memorabilia that have survived in the family.

Ships etc

Initial training at HMS Royal Arthur  [training camp at Corsham, Wiltshire]
Briefly on Implacable [aircraft carrier] – this would have been further training
HMS Fulmar  - naval air station at Lossiemouth
HMS Gamecock – Air Mechanic training at Bramcote, Nuneaton
HMS Heron -  naval air station at Yeovilton ( and briefly detached to Henstridge, Somerset an outpost of Heron )
HMS Triumph – aircraft carrier
HMS Daedalus – naval air station at Lee-on-Solent
HMS Nuthatch – naval air station at Anthorn, Cumberland
HMS Warrior – aircraft carrier    = specifically with 811 naval air squadron which was flying Hawker Sea Fury a/c at this time

Can't help with a bit, the Ratings –
He was
NA.2
NA.1 AM [E]
NA.1 MECH[ E]
This translates as –
 NA.2 = Naval Airman second class
NA.1 = Naval Airman first class 
AM = Air Mechanic
E = engine
In other words he was trained in maintaining / servicing aircraft engines
I don’t think it is “O/Sig” but “ O 5yrs”  - note the earlier annotation ‘4 yrs’.    This would affect his rate of pay I think.
The one bit I am a bit confused about is the (B) – evidently an extra qualification, but one I am not familiar with.