The numerical difference matters alongside caliber, because a second rate may mount heavier weapons as well as more of them. Its extra gun deck can fire down onto a smaller opponent and clear exposed positions with shot and splinters. Crews driven below or guns disabled early reduce the weaker ship's reply in the next exchange. Each loss therefore enlarges the initial disparity, so the advantage compounds through repeated broadsides rather than remaining a fixed twelve-gun margin.
Notable Point · 1:35:14-1:36:44
Broadside superiority grows as guns and crews are lost
A second rate's extra and often heavier guns, higher deck, and ability to clear exposed positions turn an initial numerical margin into cumulative superiority.