What prevented an impressed sailor from sabotaging the ship?
Short answerThe rest of the crew watched for sabotage, while pay and prize-money claims could give a sailor material reasons to participate even when nationality later became disputed.
NotesA disaffected sailor might try to interfere with the ship, but shipmates and officers did not leave such conduct unobserved. One example concerns an American who wanted a full share of prize money from actions in which he had served. Only when reassignment approached did that sailor insist that American nationality should exempt him from further British service. Coercion, collective discipline, earnings, and legal identity could pull the same person in different directions.