Rating First-rate

the first-rate royal george sank @ anchor in 1781 after flooded through lower gunports.

early first rates had few 60 guns, mid-1660s carried between 90 , 100 guns. years of 18th century, had become accepted 100 guns standard criterion first rate in wartime (while 90 guns, later 98 guns, became standard wartime ordnance second rate). (in peacetime, ships of line carried reduced complement of guns.) towards close of century, ships built more 100 guns, , classed first rates.

in addition rated number of carriage-mounted guns (which included heaviest calibre available mounted on lower decks, smaller guns on decks above), first rates carried number of anti-personnel guns, swivel-mounted weapons. invention of slide-mounted carronade in later 1770s, first rates (like other warships), mount number of these weapons on quarterdecks , forecastles augment short-range firepower, not included in ship s rating until 1817 except replaced carriage-mounted guns.

although powerful, navy s seventeenth century first-rates of limited utility @ sea. stability lowest gundeck had close waterline , gunports not opened in calmest of seas. otherwise risk swamping entire vessel, occurred in 1781 when first-rate royal george sank @ anchor @ spithead after lower gunports opened air ship. there little storage space stow provisions long voyages, , ships routinely proved unseaworthy in winter weather. consequence seventeenth century first-rates restricted summer cruising, , in english channel , nearby waters.

ships of size extremely expensive operate. result, few first rates (the royal navy had 5 completed in 1794) typically reserved commanding admirals flagships. first rates typically kept out of commission ( in ordinary ) during peacetime , activated ( commissioned ) during times of conflict. had added advantage of preserving them wear , tear smaller ships experienced in spending long periods @ sea. spending time in ordinary considerably extend first rate s lifespan; instance, time fought in battle of trafalgar, hms victory had been in service 40 years, although portion of time spent in ordinary.

with first rates being powerful ships of navy, common compare them navies of other nations; 1 sees largest ships of navies being referred first rates. other nations had own rating systems, notably french navy system of 5 formal rates or rangs.