How did ships of the line arrange their cannons across several gun decks?

Ships of the line arranged their cannons across multiple decks to maximize their broadside firepower, a configuration that evolved from the design of the galleon.123

The arrangement typically followed these principles:

• Tiered Batteries: Armament was distributed along two or three covered gun decks, depending on the size of the vessel. The heaviest guns were placed on the lowest deck to maintain the ship's stability, while lighter guns were positioned on the upper decks, forecastle, and quarterdeck.12
• Standardization: To improve combat effectiveness, navies eventually standardized the batteries so that all guns on a single deck were of the same weight and calibre. For example, a typical ship might mount heavy 32-pounders on the lower deck, 24-pounders on the upper gun deck, and 12-pounders on the upper battery.12
• Broadside Tactics: This layout allowed the ship to fire a "broadside"—a simultaneous discharge of all guns on one side of the vessel—which was the primary offensive tactic in line-of-battle warfare.2
• Structural Design: To support these heavy weapons, ships utilized gunports cut into the hull and employed a design feature known as "tumble home," where the sides sloped inward to concentrate the weight of the guns toward the centerline, further enhancing stability.13