A Total War battle provides a visual model of an Age of Sail squadron. The illustrative force contains ten ships of the line and a razee frigate, with the battle line divided into two five-ship groups while the razee operates independently. Two first-rate flagships make the game formation unusually lavish, and ordinary frigates or brigs would be more plausible attendants for a force of this size. The example shows why sub-commanders and smaller tactical divisions mattered when an admiral had to control many sailing ships at once. It also distinguishes the independently handled frigate from the more tightly grouped line-of-battle ships.
Chapter · 3:29-6:46
Building an Age of Sail squadron around ships of the line
A game fleet illustrates how ships of the line could be divided into manageable squadrons while a frigate or razee handled independent work.