The naval arm of the Honourable East India Company had a life of 115 years, from its founding in 1715 by Charles Boone, Governor of Bombay, to its reorganization as the Indian Navy in 1830. During this period the ships and smaller vessels of the Marine played a vital part in the wars, conflicts and battles in and around the coasts of India. Although condemned by the regular navy as little more than Buccaneers, the Marine force often supported the Royal Navy in various expeditions. In 1795 Commodore Pickett in the 'Bombay' accompanied by several smaller vessels assisted in the capture of Trincomalee and Ceylon. Vessels from Bombay accompanied the expeditions that captured the French Isle de Bourbon and Isle de France in 1809 and 1810. And Java too fell to a mixed force. Malabar coast pirates were the foes for which the force was designed to counter, while Arabian pirates and French privateers were also on the Marines receiving end. Sepoy troops, highly disciplined, were used as marines with great success.

From the start, the first ships were built in Indian ports. Surat supplied the 18 gun 'Britannia' and the 16 gun 'Fame' while Bombay supplied the 16 gun 'Revenge'. A year later the 'Victoria' 24 guns was added. The following table lists the first appointed captains and initial crew compliments.

The Bombay Marine was also at the forefront of steam technology with the small 'Diana' proving invaluable as a transport during the 1st Burma War while working on the fast flowing waters of the Irrawaddy.

The following list details the Bombay Marine establishment for the years 1802, 1812, and 1819. The Data columns refer to the Ship Data Chart that follows. These are laid out for the Heart of Oak rules.

In addition to all the above ships there were prizes and other vessels pressed into service for special or temporary reasons such as the 10 gun schooner Alert of the Swift, Star and others. Notes. Ships -three masted vessels square rigged throughout. Brigs- two masted square rigged on both with fore and aft sail on a gaff and boom attached to mainmast. Snows- differed from brigs only in having a small mast abaft the mainmast which received the jaws of the gaff and boom. Schooner- two masted with no tops either fore and aft rigged throughout or with square top sails on the foremast (topsail schooner) or on both masts (mainsail schooner). Sloops- one mast with fore and aft sail and one or more top sails.-two masted with fore and aft mainsail and a jigger mast carrying a smaller sail.

Heart Of Oak Ship Data Explanations. The ship data sections are tailored for the FGU rules 'Heart Of Oak'. They form a stand-alone section of the role-playing rules 'Privateers and Gentlemen' by Jon Williams. To transfer the ship data sections to other rules, some explanations may be required.

• Gun Decks: The number of gun decks used in boarding actions. Ships given as (1), in brackets, have a single gun deck but for the purposes of the boarding rules are considered to have none.
• Crew: Given in Crew Factors where one factor equals 10 men.
• Hull: Given in Hull Factors the amount of damage sustainable before sinking.
• Long Guns: Given in Broadside Factors and used for both broadsides. Thus a ship listed as 4 has a larboard broadside of 4 and a starboard broadside of 4.
• Carronades: Again given in Broadside factors. The British began using carronades around 1780.
• Draft: The amount of water in feet required for a ship to float. Thus if a ship requires 15 feet it will run aground in 14 feet or less. No soundings have been given for the scenarios but may be added if required.
• Wind: The number of compass points a vessel must sail from the wind.
• Sail: The sailing chart used by the ship to calculate movement. All depending on the wind strength and sail setting.
• Turn: The Turn allowance of a ship expressed in compass points. Thus an allowance of 2 means a ship may not generally alter its course by more than 2 compass points per turn.