The powder monkey is a key shipmate when going into battle. His job is to make sure there is plenty of gun powder for the cannons. Without powder the cannon is just another anchor. The powder monkey is usually the new guy, a stow-away kid, some one shanghaied, or someone in trouble. This never makes much sense to me because his role as the powder monkey is a crucial one in any fight. The problem is that working with gun powder can shorten your stay with the crew (and life). Too many powder monkeys get blown to bits. Why would you want someone in such a key role be expendable? Would it not be wiser to have a sharp veteran of explosives to handle the gun powder? Someone who knows what they are doing wouldn't be as likely to get blown to bits. Just maybe there are not any left who are wise , or they are wise and don't do it any more.