Ardent-class 64s beside Agamemnon

The Ardent class puts Nelson's famous Agamemnon back among the Royal Navy's many 64-gun third rates. The class list, building dates, and long service spans place these ships in a mature but still evolving age-of-sail design environment. The class was ordered and launched over roughly twenty-four years, while its members collectively served for more than half a century. A comparison with later cruiser categories explains how similar-looking ship types could still fill distinct roles.