Know your Nautical Terminology
futtock shrouds
Rope, wire, or chain links in the rigging of a traditional square-rigged ship running from the outer edges of a top downwards and inwards to a point on the mast or lower shrouds. They carry the load of the shrouds that rise from the edge of the top, preventing the top from tilting relative to the mast.
It was a point of pride that the topmen would climb up the outside of the futtuck shrouds rather than using the lubber's hole to reach the top. The area between the mast and the topmast was considered a fighting top. During combat Marines would be stationed here in addition to the sail handlers. Their job was to shoot down onto the deck of nearby ships especially targeting the officers as well as killing enemy Marines in their fighting top. It was one of the two French Marines remaining alive in the mizzen top of Redoutable who shot Lord Nelson and was in turn shot by Signals Midshipman John Pollard.
WWG1WGA
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)