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In the age of sail (up to the late 19th century), a ship of the line was a warship powerful enough to take a place in the
line of battle. (The term "battleship" has a similar etymology.) Generally, this meant a third-rate or larger ship, with guns on two or more decks. Rated ships
smaller than this were frigates, and carried all their guns on a single upper
deck.
| Type |
Rate |
Guns |
Gun decks |
Men |
Displacement in tonnes |
| Ship-of-the-Line |
1st Rate |
100 or more |
3 + forecastle
and quarterdeck |
850 to 875 |
>2000 |
| 2nd Rate |
90 to 98 |
3 + forecastle
and quarterdeck |
700 to 750 |
about 2000 |
| 3rd Rate |
64 to 80 |
2 |
500 to 650 |
1300-1600 |
| Frigate |
4th Rate |
50 to 60 |
2 |
320 to 420 |
about 1000 |
| 5th Rate |
32 to 40 |
1 |
200 to 300 |
700 to 1450 |
| 6th Rate |
20 to 28 |
1 |
140 to 200 |
450 to 550 |
| Sloops |
16 to 18 |
1 |
90 to 125 |
380 |
| Gun-Brigs
and Cutters |
6 to 14 |
1 |
5 to 25 |
<220 |
The number of crew on a first rate was increased by 25 when used as an Admiral's
flagship, by 20 with a Vice Admiral and 15 with a Rear Admiral.
Originally from http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/gen1.htm, with the author's permission.
Isaac Asimov adapted the term "Ship of the Line" to apply to the armed
spaceships which served a similar role to the old naval vessels for the Galactic Empire of his Foundation trilogy, as mainstays of the space fleet.
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