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Comte de Brueys
11-29-2011, 09:17
Usmc1855 posted a nice link with the different ship classes (thx):

The ships-of-the-line:

1st Rate - Ships with over 90 guns
Three-deckers, main fleet flagships
2nd Rate - Ships with over 80 guns Three-deckers
3rd Rate - Ships with over 54 guns Two-deckers, the mainstay of battle fleets

The following classes were considered too "weak" to participate in the battle-lines:

4th Rate - Ships with over 38 guns
One-decker frigates, which were developed to a multitude of tasks, to reconnoiter ahead of the main fleet and deliver despatches to and from the fleet leadership, to convoy duty and to privateering.
5th Rate - Ships with over 18 guns
like corvettes, which could also be rowed
6th Rate - Ships with over 6 guns
Small auxiliary and courier vessels for the fleet


I want to use this information for another poll.

So what is your favourite ship to command?

Dan-Sam
11-29-2011, 09:27
I have a weakness for HMS Indefatigable - so 3rd rate frigate ship with 64 guns for me :)

Comte de Brueys
11-29-2011, 09:28
My favourite is the L'Orient, a french, 118 cannon, three-decker flaggship.

http://sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=8742&d=1390891495

Attila57
11-29-2011, 13:16
3rd Rate, no doubt!

Attilio

Gunner
11-29-2011, 13:25
3rd Rate for me.
And I'll fight any 6th Rate I can find.

Comte de Brueys
11-29-2011, 13:49
3rd Rate for me.
And I'll fight any 6th Rate I can find.

Catch them, if you can.;)

Blackrose
11-29-2011, 16:35
A 4th rate for me; independent command is the thing.
Karl

Old Salt
11-29-2011, 18:13
120 Guns ,I will trade broadsides with any one. 3rd rate to sneek behind to rake you, and down you go

The Cowman
11-29-2011, 18:25
3rd Rate... not too big... not too small...

Gunner
11-29-2011, 18:26
A 120 can't sneak behind anything.:D

Old Salt
11-29-2011, 20:02
120 for broadsides, 54 plus ; a 3rd rate to rake

Berthier
11-29-2011, 23:17
The 74 SOL, though many carried more than 74 guns they were the workhorses and most versatile. Able to fight it out ftf with other SOL, maneuverable, fast(ish) and able to act alone or in concert with other ships. Could serve as a Flagship if needed and had a large enough crew to allow landing parties etc. Well handled and crewed could out fight a larger ship. Frigates were for the fancy boys, hussars of the seas. 74's were for the real men...:cool:

SeaHunter
11-30-2011, 02:53
Fourth rate for me. I like commerce raiding/privateering. But some day would like to command a third or even a second rate ship!

Horatio
12-01-2011, 10:39
3rd rate for me until I get my sea legs

Bligh
12-01-2011, 12:17
Always been a Frigate man myself. Lots of independent action to be had and more prize money to be split among fewer men.
Bligh.

Capt P
12-01-2011, 17:16
I like the Frigate. Smaller battles such as 1 on 1. Have to do more research on all the ships.

Gaz67
12-02-2011, 10:37
5th rate, start small and work your way up...

Blackjohn
12-02-2011, 14:37
It should come as no surprise that I'm mostly interested in a merchants vs pirates and privateers game. So for me, the smaller ships hold more interest.

Tommy Z
12-02-2011, 21:06
Aye, a privateer I am...so smaller & faster for me, but I'll stick a few extra guns wherever I can find the room!

David Manley
12-03-2011, 01:44
I'm an Indefatigable fan (Pellew and all that) but I prefer her post 1794 razee configuration, as a 44 gun 5th rate super frigate :D

Capn Duff
12-03-2011, 10:49
I,m quite happy to run a few 3rd rates to get the hang of things. Will need a bigger boat later though.

Anav
12-03-2011, 11:02
Any of the original American 44's. Constitution President United States

Killick
12-05-2011, 04:19
3rd rate 74 gun ship of the line for me:cool:

frpat
12-08-2011, 04:38
I certainly incline towards the 74 - but also have a soft spot for HMS Glatton - only a 54, but all 64 or 32 pdr carronades - she threw a greater weight of metal than any contemporary 1st rate - and as a bonus, she was commanded (at Copenhagen) by none other than William Bligh. What's not to love?

Mister Rich
12-11-2011, 10:08
Give me a US 44 any day!

Rich

David Manley
12-12-2011, 21:38
Would it be churlish and picky to point out that, whilst accurate for the 1600s, the rating system in the poll doesn't reflect the rating system that was commonly used in the Napoleonic era? A more accurate description, based on the established armament of the vessel, would be:

Ships of the Line:
1st rate - 100+guns
2nd rate - 90-98
3rd rate - 64 to 80
4th rate - 50 to 60**

Frigates
5th rate - 32 to 44
6th rate - 20-28

Unrated
18 or less

Technically (in the RN at least) the larger 5th rates (44s) and smaller 4th rates (50s in particular) were grouped into a quasi-separate category of "cruisers", and smaller 6th rates (24s or smaller) were "post ships" - weaker than a regular frigate but referrred to as a post ship as they were commanded by a post captain

Gunner
12-12-2011, 21:49
As far as I know, David is right.

Cpt Kangaroo
12-14-2011, 10:51
British 38 Frigate would do me just fine. Plenty of power to take the initiative in independant actions. Strong enough to take on most opposing frigates, and in some conditions a 50.

Coog
01-15-2012, 15:26
A US 44 is my favorite. I also like the US ship sloops for raiding.

Jack Aubrey
01-18-2013, 03:59
for me a 5th rate frigate....44 guns ok.

Diamondback
01-18-2013, 23:40
Depends... default the US 44-gun, may request to transfer flag as mission needs dictate. DO NOT see myself as part of a Battle Line... best left to stalk prey independently, or sneak up on an SOL and put a Prize Crew aboard before anybody knows what's happening. LOL

Bligh
01-19-2013, 03:06
Always fancied myself as Master of a 44 Razee Frigate with the extra Carronades. Get up close and pound them to matchwwood method.

1794


Bligh.

7eat51
02-09-2013, 23:11
The USS Constitution, 44-gun frigate.

Volunteer
02-10-2013, 03:51
A 5th rate for me. More chance for solitary cruses, taking prizes, Getting rich on prize money.

Jack Aubrey
02-10-2013, 04:14
That`s exactly, what I want.
There is in German a word: "Lieber rumtigern als andackeln!": in englich maybe : "act free like a tiger and not stand by feet as a dog" (Tiger=tiger; Dackel= some kind of a dog)

Volunteer
02-10-2013, 06:38
Yes Jack, exactly! The best stories are of the small ship actions during solitary cruises. French Privateer Robert Surcouf and RN Captain Thomas Cochrane were the real life inspirations of several authors.

7eat51
02-10-2013, 18:26
That`s exactly, what I want.
There is in German a word: "Lieber rumtigern als andackeln!": in englich maybe : "act free like a tiger and not stand by feet as a dog" (Tiger=tiger; Dackel= some kind of a dog)

Great saying. I will memorize this.

7eat51
02-10-2013, 18:31
Yes Jack, exactly! The best stories are of the small ship actions during solitary cruises. French Privateer Robert Surcouf and RN Captain Thomas Cochrane were the real life inspirations of several authors.

Hey Vol,

Looks like you were just promoted again - now Able Seaman.

Congrats,
EAT

Coog
02-10-2013, 22:24
Hey Vol,

Looks like you were just promoted again - now Able Seaman.

Congrats,
EAT

Congratulations Vol! Seems like you and Eric will be Midshipmen in no time.

Volunteer
02-11-2013, 05:09
Cool! Thanks Guys and thank You Capt'n!

Jack Aubrey
02-12-2013, 01:52
Congratulations, able seaman...
and comming to the question of this thread: frigate, yes, ......but when allowed, I would take the "Nautilus" :cool::D;).....

pward
04-14-2013, 13:57
Give me a Frigate (one of the US six)!

Cmmdre
05-25-2013, 00:08
Frigate actions are more in line with tactics I like as well. 5th Rate. Not too big not too small although smaller vessels are also fun to play.

Teufelhund
03-21-2014, 09:32
USS Constitution

KDz
04-15-2016, 07:54
My answer will be: Santisima Trinidad.
And I hope that the upcoming wave III will satisfy this desire :wink:

Bligh
04-15-2016, 08:28
Looking back after three years at my post, and having converted Constitution into a Razee Frigate, I would now concur with you Kamil. If we were getting anything special the Santisima would fit the bill and at the same time make those Spanish, which really need beefing up compared to the other fleets ships, much more attractive to sail.
Rob.

TexaS
04-15-2016, 16:17
This question is not clear in what it meant.

Is it what ship I like best or what ship I would like to play in Sails.

I think Sails is best suited for frigate actions and from that I'm with David here. Indefatigable played with Constitution stats (Should probably have a little less firepower and be a little better sailer.)

If it's regarding any naval game in the genre I would probably lean more towards a 74. I do love the Téméraire-class and their British copies.

What I myself would have wanted to do if I had lived back then and were a captain is a totally different question. Would I like to blockade a port or would I want to roam the seven seas? Would I like bad provisions or fever? It's a hard choice, I think I'd prefer to be my own on the seas. Frigate it is... and then Indefatigable would be better than most...

Bligh
04-16-2016, 01:33
:question: As I understood it the question was hypothetical and open ended. It did not say for instance what ship made by Ares would you like to command in the Anchorage campaign.
Therefore, I just answered for my personal preference. I do, however, agree with Jonas about there being nothing like a good sized Frigate,:thumbsup: hence my choice of the HEIC Nottingham for the Solo game.
The stats I use are the lower set of Constitution rules, as it was known that the HEIC could afford to provide the best guns for their ships, and even the Indiamen often formed up in the LOB.
For Squadrons I like to run 74s. That was my original choice before I got to playing the game seriously.
:hmmm:As for living back then, with my experience of re-enactment through several periods, no thanks.:erk: With my medical requirements I would not be living for long, even if a ball did not take my head off in the first battle.:takecover:
Rob.

TexaS
04-16-2016, 03:12
There was not much need for my extensive computer skills either.