why was the size of the british navy important in the war of 1812

The largest, first-rates, were massive in terms of size and firepower. The third-rate formed the backbone of many navies, especially the British, and usually mounted seventy-four guns on three decks, with a crew of up to 700 men. These slow and heavily armed ships would form the core of a battle line and exchange fire with their similarly sized adversaries.

The largest naval vessels were the ships of the line and often classified by the British rating system: first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate. It is important to understand the different types of warship that plied the waves during this period, which applies to both the American Revolution and War of 1812. Because of a ship’s dependence on the wind for propulsion, combat often resembled a deadly dance between combatants, which could disintegrate into a bloody close-range brawl. Sailing ships were virtually floating villages, with the largest ships of the line armed with more artillery than some armies. Naval combat in the Age of Sail, which lasted from the 16th to mid-19th century, may seem strange to the modern eye.

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Why was the size of the british navy important in the war of 1812