Great idea about the lower deck guns! That makes a lot of sense! The would have been enough gun ports already cut open, as it seems JPJ at first planned to arm her with 62 guns. 18 pound cannon on the lower 0r gun deck,9 's on the upper deck and 6's on the quarterdeck. ( It was proposed that the ship be mounted with 70 gun(!) by fitting 16 6's on fc/qd),
Fr east Indiaman already had lower gun ports cut then planked over , making them easy to cut open. (Fr navy always short on liners would use these as full warships, typically in secondary areas.
Jones never received his new guns, so only cut 6 extra ports out to fill for the 18's. There were already 10 ports open on the lower deck (now total 16) so appears Jones was trying to trim by the stern.
The 18's were condemed Fr guns . the only ones in stock. But Jones must have tested them and must have had his pick (of the best of the worst).
He then mounted 12's in place of the 9's and 9's on fc/qd instead of 6's. making a total of 42. (in fact after a trial run he removed the 2 9 pound bow chasers, leaving 40 guns. This is what he fought the battle with.
With the way the gun ports were opened, there would be 3 18's in ports (every other one cut open) and 3 at normal distance apart. Plus the fact that, being a merchent ship build, every piece of would would be of a thinner thickness (do not know what type used, but most likely a softer wood than oak or other hard woods. Execpt maybe for knee's and such important structureal locations.
Any such explosion could also cause damage to the softer wood of the surronding woodwork. Possably even to the deck above., carrying the 12's, if you are thinking about wt carrying issues the Fr navy had already added iron knee's for addational support of the gun decks.
Sounds like a workable theory. Might also help to understand the working life of the 12 pound battery, aLwyays seemed strange that
all 14 12's on that side were out of action, as they were level with the SERAPIS 9 POUND battery , plus never heard about the 9's being replaced by the new Br light 12 pounders and oh ya the Fr 12 pound shot was equal to Br 14pound +' OPS
Sorry, just working out all the angles. Sometimes get lost in thought....
Have to go, but will check later to make sure everything covered.
GRIZZ
S