'Les from Hull, the explanation given regarding the origins of "2 - 6 Heave" were exactly as explained to us during basic training in the Royal Navy. I would venture to guess that if they don't bloody well know, nobody else alive can shed any authoritative light on it.'

Well - it's obvious to me that they don't bloody well know - so you shouldn't believe what they said. They only heard it from the guy who taught them. It relies on the theory that 2 and 6 were the blokes who heaved on the ropes to run the gun out. They weren't. They were numbers 5,6,7 8,9,10,11,12. Check with Brian Lavery's 'Nelson's Navy - the Ships, Men and Organisation 1793 - 1815', an excellent general guide to the sailing Royal Navy.