Just to help clear up one or two points about the lack of shanties in the Royal Navy (and possibly in other Navies).

Warship crews are much more numerous than Merchant crews, far more than would be needed to sail the ship (on a typical frigate 300 crew for a ship that you could sail with 30). So co-ordinated effort was not so much needed. On the occassions that it was, a fiddler (if available)could be used to play a hornpipe, or the marine drummer could be used.

Discipline was much tighter. Look at some of the shanties sung and see if the officers would have thought them 'appropriate'. Officers usually came from a different class if a very class conscious society.

Sailors were encouraged to dance and sometimes to sing what have come to be known as 'forebitters' such as Spanish Ladies.

Les