1st and 2nd rates would be my main ships. I like making big booms! Then have a few smaller ships as support.
1st and or 2nd rates (90 + gun ships, 3 deckers)
3rd rates (64 to 80 gun ships, 2 deckers)
4-6th rates (roughly 30 to 60 ships, 4th rates were 2 deckers, 5th and 6th rates had 1 deck)
'Unrated' (includes most naval/privateer vessels with <= 24 guns)
1st and 2nd rates would be my main ships. I like making big booms! Then have a few smaller ships as support.
I have always liked frigates. Ships of the line, while great are to my mind slow and ponderous. If I had lived in the era I would have had to think long and hard before accepting a ship of the line even though I know it would have at the time been considered the logical step. That freedom dictated by a frigate would be hard to leave.
Morning Robert.
It never ceases to amaze me how some Captains such as Pellew or Cochrane managed to hang on to their Frigates as long as they did, whilst other Captains got moved to a 50 or 74 as soon as a cruise was over and their Frigate went in for repairs.
Seems that some had no choice about where the Admiralty deployed them!
At least we can pick and choose which ships we prefer to sail.
My personal favourite is a Razee or super Frigate like the American ones. Agility, freedom of command mixed with firepower.
The best of all worlds, combined with the chance for lots of prize money.
Rob.
The Business of the commander-in-chief is first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his ships close on board the enemy, as expeditiously as possible); and secondly to continue them there until the business is decided.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks