== Units ==

== Units ==

During the Napoleonic wars there were eight fleets and stations distributed around the world. The main fleets respectivly stations were the [[Mediterranean Fleet|Mediterranean]] the [[Channel Fleet|channel]] and the [[North Sea Fleet (United Kingdom)|North seas fleet]]. Minor stations were at Jamaica the East Indies, the West Indies the Leeward islands and North America.{{sfn|Rodger|2004|p=616}}{{sfn|Pope|1987|pp=28, 135}} There was no strict difference in size between fleets and squadrons; sometimes a squadron could be as large or larger than a fleet. For example the Mediterranean fleet, considered one of the most important commands, had up to sixty-two ships in 1797 while the Leeward Islands squadron, commanding a less vital region, had forty-four ships in the same year. Generally, the largest fleets ranged from thirty to over ninety ships, while squadrons could vary from a few ships to more than forty. A fleet was typically commanded by a Admiral of the fleet a Vice-admiral or a Rear-Admiral. A squadron were also commanded by a flag officer or a Commodore.{{efn|Such squadrons were unly up to 10 ships{{sfn|Adkin|2005|p=123}}}}In some cases, ships and squadrons operated directly under Admiralty orders without an admiral, with a captain in command.{{sfn|Lavery|1989|pp=246–251}}

During the Napoleonic wars there were eight fleets and stations distributed around the world. The main fleets respectivly stations were the [[Mediterranean Fleet|Mediterranean]] the [[Channel Fleet|channel]] and the [[North Sea Fleet (United Kingdom)|North seas fleet]]. Minor stations were at Jamaica the East Indies, the West Indies the Leeward islands and North America.{{sfn|Rodger|2004|p=616}}{{sfn|Pope|1987|pp=28, 135}} There was no strict difference in size between fleets and squadrons; sometimes a squadron could be as large or larger than a fleet. For example the Mediterranean fleet, considered one of the most important commands, had up to sixty-two ships in 1797 while the Leeward Islands squadron, commanding a less vital region, had forty-four ships in the same year. Generally, the largest fleets ranged from thirty to over ninety ships, while squadrons could vary from a few ships to more than forty. A fleet was typically commanded by a Admiral of the fleet a Vice-admiral or a Rear-Admiral. A squadron were also commanded by a flag officer or a Commodore.{{efn|Such squadrons were only up to 10 ships{{sfn|Adkin|2005|p=123}}}}In some cases, ships and squadrons operated directly under Admiralty orders without an admiral, with a captain in command.{{sfn|Lavery|1989|pp=246–251}}

== Recruitment and training ==

== Recruitment and training ==