Here's a list of armaments on a ship that certainly predates the era portrayed
in "Master and Commander"....

But it is interesting to note that in a 102 gun ship, 16 are designated bow or
stern chassers. Considering the finite area that could be described as bow or
stern, that's a pretty fair percentage.


Equipment
Equipped with three boats:

Length, Breadth, Depth.
Feet, Inch. feet, inch. feet, inch.
Long-boat 50 10 12 6 4 3
Pinnace 36 0 9 6 3 3
Skiff 27 0 7 0 3 0


Armament
Originally planned for 90 guns at a cost of £20.592, but this was changed to
102 when the King visited the ship on December 7, 1638. The estimated cost for
the new armament was £24.447 8s 8d, to which should be added £ 1700 for the
last four guns.

Lower deck
Broadside 20 cannon drakes
Stern chasers 4 demi-cannon drakes
Bow chasers 2 demi-cannon
Luffs 2 demi-cannon

Middle deck
Broadside 24 culverin drakes
Stern chasers 4 culverins
Bow chasers 2 culverins

Upper deck
Broadside 24 demi-culverin drakes
Stern chasers 2 demi-culverins
Bow chasers 2 demi-culverins

Quarter deck 6 demi-culverin drakes
Forecastle 8 demi-culverin drakes
2 culverin drakes
Poop 2 demi-culverin drakes