Ships used by the Navy - Ship of the Line to Frigates

Question 1

1. How was a ‘ship of the line’ designed until the end of the age of sail?
2. How many cannons did first and second rate ships usually have?
   - What did Admirals often use these as?
   - Give an example of this.
3. Why were fourth-rate ships phased out from the late 18th-century?
4. What % of all Navy ships of the line were third-rate ships by 1814?
   - How many gun decks did these ships have?

Answer 1

1. Long, with large numbers of cannons on each side, and narrow to maximise speed.
2. 80-120.
   - Flagships.
   - Nelson’s 100-gun ‘Victory.’
3. Lacked sufficient firepower.
4. 80%.
   - Two.

Question 2

1. Which battle gave Britain a lasting naval supremacy?

2. However, what had to be sacrificed on ships of the line to make way for firepower & extra gun decks?

Answer 2

1. Battle of Trafalgar, 1805.

2. Manoeuvrability and speed.

Question 3

1. What were fifth and sixth-rate ships called?
2. What these typically have?
   - This meant they were ______ and more _________ than ships of the line.
3. What was the name of the Frigate which destroyed 53 French ships between 1800-01?
4. However, how many Frigates did the French build between 1777 and 90?
   - How many British ships were lost in 1810 to the French?

Answer 3

1. Frigates.
2. A single gun deck.
   - Faster and more maneouvrable.
3. ‘Speedy.’
4. 60. • 620.