The Austrian navy according to the The United States Service Journal in 1837

In an earlier note on this weblog I was able to give a description of the arsenal of Venice, when Venice was part of the Austrian empire(1). This property made it impossible for the Austrians to establish and maintain a navy in the Mediterranean. While searching on internet I found a second article which provides information about the Austrian navy in 1837; written by a certain O.E. Just a year later as the original publishing date of the article which deals with the Venetian arsenal.

"The Austrian Navy consists of eight ships of the line, lying at the arsenal at Venice (none of which are at present in commission), eight frigates, four sloops, six brigs, seven schooners or galleys, and a number of minor vessels, such as gardaporti (guardships), gunboats &c. These gardaporti are stationed in every much-frequented harbour, for the purpose of preventing smuggling, convoying government monies, &c. They are either two-masted brigs, armed with one iron and four brass cannon; or three-masted vessels, with a crew of twenty-four or twenty-eight men; or else they  are one-masted gun-boats, with an iron four-and-twenty-pounder, and manned with a crew of thirty men; in this class also there is a light vessel called a ballau, principally employed in looking after pirates, which is of very strong build. The Navy actually in commission is composed of a razed ship of the line, a frigate, four sloops, four brigs, seven galleys, two schooners, and a brig used for the purposes of a lazaretto or hospital; amounting to twenty in all, carrying 310 guns. Ships of war bear the same flag as vessels in the merchant service, namely, red with a broad white diagonal stripe. The flag at the staff has the Austrian arms, surmounted by a crown, in the centre of the stripe. All government vessels also carry a long red and white pennant. Besides a corps of seamen, there is a division of marines, and of marine artillery and engineers. The navy is under the command of a Vice-Admiral, residing at Venice, assisted by a Rear-Admiral; next to them in rank are Captains of ships of the line, of whom there are none at present; then follow Captains of frigates, four in number; Captains of sloops, six (one of whom is in command of the corps of seamen); fifteen senior and twenty-seven sub-Lieutenants; seventy-five Ensigns; and eighteen Navy Cadets or Midshipmen. The uniform of the superior officers of the Navy is a dark-blue coat with light-blue cuffs and collar, white trowsers, gilt buttons, and epaulets varying according to the rank they hold. The marine artillery wear light-blue coats with light-red cuffs and collar, gold buttons and epaulets. The corps of naval engineers consists of six ship-building engineers (ingenieurs-schiffs-constructeur), three superior building engineers (ingenieurs-oberconstructeur), and sub-building engineers. Their uniform is dark blue, with pinkish red cuffs and collar, gilt buttons, and epaulets varying to their rank. The officers of the corps of seamen, whose head-quarters are at Venice, are under the command of a Captain of sloops, and wear the same dress as the superior officers of the Navy: the men, from the boatswain downwards, have a uniform of dark blue with gilt buttons. The division or battalion of marines are commanded by an officer of the staff, five Captains, six senior and six sub-Lieutenants, six Ensigns (fähnrichen) and fourteen Cadets. Their uniform is light-blue, with bright red cuffs and collar, gilt buttons and epaulets. The Naval Arsenal at Venice is one of the most interesting establishments in that city; it is very spacious, being about two miles in circuit. Upon passing through the handsome gate of entrance, on either side of which is a colossal lion in marble, which formerly embellished the port of Athens, you have the whole of this vast establishment before you; it comprises workshops of all kinds, together with a large store of every possible article requisite for the outfits of ships …[possession] of halls in which thousands of arms and muniments of war are grouped in a tasteful manner. The Hall of Models contains an extensive collection of models of all kinds of vessels, both large and small. In an adjoining chamber are Canova's bust of Emo, a naval hero, well known in the annals of Venetian history; and of General Gattamelata, another Venetian commander of high repute: the same apartment likewise contains a splendid basso-relievo of the Adriatic, its rocks, cliffs, and islands. The Arsenal possesses thirty-two covered slips for ships of the line; fifty-four slips for smaller vessels; four large basins; five cannon-foundries, a very fine ropewalk, 910 feet long, 70 feet broad, and 32 feet in height; extensive works for carpenters and shipbuilders, &c. The number of workmen daily employed here is from a thousand to twelve hundred. Nothing more remains of the bucentoro, or gondola, in which the ceremony of the quondam Doge of Venice's marriage with the Adriatic was solemnized, but a few fragments. The Academy of Naval Cadets is also established at Venice. It is under the management of a Rear-Admiral and Deputy-Superintendent. There are six professors engaged in it, three of whom give instruction in the mathematics exclusively; the duties of the others extend to teaching ship-building, marine architecture, experimental philosophy, history, geography, naval law and police, and naval strategetics. One of the chaplains of the navy gives instruction in religious knowledge. There are three inspectors of internal discipline; and two of them teach infantry exercises and writing. The Italian, German, French, and English languages, drawing and fencing, as well as the practice of navigation, are also taught. There are twenty pupil in this institution who are educated at the public expense; the remaining cadets are educated at the expense of their parents or friends".

Source

The United States Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine, 1837, part III, p. 242-243. Digitized by Google.

Note

1. "The Venetian arsenal and the Austrian navy around 1836". See also the note titled "The Austrian navy in 1859 according to Hans Busk."