Howdy, all. When I'm not modelling, I'm a writer and I'm currently working a story set on a French 74-gun Diadème-class ship of the line (Le Zodiaque) during the Battle of Negapatam (1758). Since my main character is a ship's surgeon, I'm looking for a reality check on two locations in such a ship: 
Bay and the Surgeon's Cockpit.
My understanding is that the Bay was typically located near the bow on the berthing deck. It was used by convalescing sailors during normal sailing. Conversely, the Surgeon's Cockpit was used during battle and was located in a more protected location, typically on the orlop deck between the main and mizzen masts. It usually had only ~5 feet of headroom, forcing the surgeon and his mates to work on their knees.
Unfortunately, all of the research I've found is for later ships, and none French. So, my questions are these:
1 - Would the Cockpit and Bay on Le Zodiaque (or other French 74-gunners) be located in the same places described above?
2 - Would her Cockpit be near the powder room? (In the battle, Le Zodiaque had a fire a fire break out near her powder room. On the US frigate Constitution, the aft powder room is almost under the Cockpit, but that's a whole different ship class.)
Anyone have deck plans for that class and/or era that indicate where the Cockpit, Bay, and powder room were situated?
Thanks in advance for any insights.
Bay and the Surgeon's Cockpit.My understanding is that the
Bay was typically located near the bow on the berthing deck. It was used by convalescing sailors during normal sailing. Conversely, the Surgeon's Cockpit was used during battle and was located in a more protected location, typically on the orlop deck between the main and mizzen masts. It usually had only ~5 feet of headroom, forcing the surgeon and his mates to work on their knees.Unfortunately, all of the research I've found is for later ships, and none French. So, my questions are these:
1 - Would the Cockpit and
Bay on Le Zodiaque (or other French 74-gunners) be located in the same places described above?2 - Would her Cockpit be near the powder room? (In the battle, Le Zodiaque had a fire a fire break out near her powder room. On the US frigate Constitution, the aft powder room is almost under the Cockpit, but that's a whole different ship class.)
Anyone have deck plans for that class and/or era that indicate where the Cockpit,
Bay, and powder room were situated?Thanks in advance for any insights.
