The Rates

¹⁾ Not many of these large, expensive ships were built. Therefore, the Navy used the same tried-and-tested basic design for decades. With only minor modifications.

In the second half of the 18th century, the previously open area of the upper battery deck between the forecastle and the quarterdeck was covered. This created space for additional guns. Nevertheless, the 12-pounders on the forecastle were replaced by heavy 68-pounder carronades, which did not count as guns.

As a result, British ships of the first rate carried little more than the originally designated 100 guns.

The Spanish and French navies, on the other hand, had been building three-decker ships since the 1770s, which, depending on the source, carried 116 to 120 guns.

The Royal Navy did not follow until the turn of the 18th to the 19th century – but then it did so thoroughly.