SHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY

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Ships of the Royal Navy for Great Britain during the Napoleonic war were divided into different classes according to the number of guns on each ship. The guns were placed on the several decks that these ships had, with the heavier guns place on the lower decks so to keep the ship stable when it is healed over in the wind.

1st rate is the largest ship, equipped with 100-112 guns. It has 3 gun decks and would a average 2,500 tons.

While there is no set configuration of guns, here is a example of a common configuration for a 100 gun 1st rate:
 

42 pdr. 
32 pdr. 
12 pdr. 
6 pdr. 
28
28 
30
18 
There would also be 2-32 pdr. and 6-24 pdr. Carronades . These were shorter than the normal cannon and lacked the range but could throw a very heavy weight. It would be staffed with 850-875 sailors, one marine for each gun, a marine captain and 3 marine subalterns. It would be commanded by a Post-Captain (a Captain with 3 or more years seniority) and many times it would have a admiral on board.

Number of 1st rate ships in full commission:

in 1794 - 5

in 1814 - 7

2nd rate ship of the line would have 3 gun decks and would be equipped with 90-98 guns in the following configuration:


 
32 pdr. 18 pdr. 12 pdr. 
28 30 40
Plus 2-32 pdr and 6-18 pdr. Carronades. It would way an average of 2,200 tons. It would be equipped with 750 sailors, one marine for each gun, a marine captain and 3 marine subalterns. It would be commanded by a Post-Captain (a Captain with 3 or more years seniority).

Number of 2nd rate ships in full commission:

in 1794 - 9

in 1814 - 5

3rd rate ship of the line would carry between 64 and 84 guns on 2 gun decks. Their configuration would be:


 
Guns
32 pdr. 
18 pdr.
9 pdr. 
80
26 
26
24 
74
28 
28
18 
70
28 
28
14 
64
26 
26
12 
Plus 2-32 pdr and 6-18 pdr. Carronades. The ship would average 1,750 tons It would be equipped with 650 sailors, one marine for each gun, a marine captain and 2 marine subalterns. It would be commanded by a Captain. Except for the 64 gun which would not have a marine captain.

Number of ships in full commission:

in 1794 - 71

in 1814 - 87

4th rate ship of the line would carry 50-54 guns on two decks. The guns would be in the following

configuration.


 
24 pdr.
12 pdr. 
6 pdr.
22
22 
6
Plus 6-24 pdr and 6-12 pdr. Carronades. The ship would average 1,100 tons. It would be equipped with 420 sailors, one marine for each gun, 2 marine subalterns and it would be commanded by a Captain.

Number of ships in full commission:

in 1794 - 5

in 1814 - 7

5th rate could be either a 44 gun ship of the line with 2 gun decks or Frigate with 1 gun deck and between 32 to 44 guns in the following configurations:
 

Guns 
18 pdr. 
12 pdr. 
9 pdr. 
6 pdr. 
Carronades
44
20 
22
6
8/18 pdr. 
36
26 
2
8 
 8/32 pdr.
32
26 
6
 6/24 pdr.
It would be equipped with 300 sailors, one marine for each gun, 1 marine subalterns and it would be commanded by a Captain. They would average 900 tons.

Number of ships in full commission:

Ship of the Line

in 1794 - 12

in 1814 - 2
 
Frigates Total 44 gun 40 gun 38 gun 36 gun 32 gun 28 gun
1794 66  0 0  11 18  37 22
1814 121 1 6  51 51  12  0
Nelson remarked in 1798 "Was I to die at this moment, want of frigates would be found stamped on my heart".

6th rate Frigate consists of 20 to 30 guns in the following configuration:


 

Guns
9 pdr. 
6 pdr. 
Carronades
28
24 
4
6-24pdr. 
24
22 
2
2-24 pdr. and 6-18 pdr. 
20
 20 8-12 pdr.
It would be equipped with 200 sailors, one marine for each gun, 1 marine subalterns and it would be commanded by a Captain. It is the smallest ship a Captain would command normally.

Number of ships in full commission:

in 1794 - 32

in 1814 - 25

Finally at the bottom would be the sloops, these are unrated. They would be equipped with 16-18 6 Pdr. cannons and 8-12 Pdr. Carronades. They would have a strength of 125 sailors, 1 marine for each gun and a marine sergeant and would be commanded by a Master/Lieutenant/Commander.

There are also various other vessels of combat. The bomb vessels used at the Battle of Copenhagen. These vessels consisted of 2 mortars of 10 or 13 inches through a explosive shell on a high arc. The fireships, which would be sailed into close groups of enemy ships, set afire then rammed against any target of opportunity. Then there are the brigs, luggers corvettes and yachts used to assist the fleets around the world.

Number of these ships in full commission:

in 1794 - 76

in 1814 - 360

Things to come!

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