Existing comment:
Ship Rates:
Officials of the Royal Navy divided the fleet into rated and unrated vessels. Rated ships were those that were big enough to warrant a captain as their commanding officer. These were subdivided into six rates. The three largest rates were collectively known as ships of the line, or battleships, that carried from 70 to 100 or more guns on two or three complete gundecks. They fought in the line of battle one behind the other, where their broadside batteries would be most effective against an enemy fleet. Fifth and Sixth Rates were designated as cruisers, the most famous of which were the frigates of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The smallest of the rated vessels were Sixth Rates mounting 20 to 28 guns arrayed on a single gundeck. Types of unrated vessels included brigs, sloops, cutters, fireships, and yachts. |