The order-of-battle comparison covers ships, guns, captains, and the frigates added to each battle line. The Dutch possessed six ships of the line to Britain's five, but the Royal Navy added two powerful frigates to create the stronger line in cumulative firepower. Individual matchups also favored several British ships despite the apparently close totals. Dutch shallow-water requirements produced lighter construction, adding another qualification to paper gun counts. The remaining frigates operated independently and could join the action once the formal lines dissolved into a melee. Numerical equality did not mean identical combat power.
Chapter · 43:52-57:02
The balanced British and Dutch fleets of 1781
The 1781 battle matched two convoy escorts whose paper strength was close but whose individual ship matchups favored the Royal Navy line.