A ship's rated number of guns does not give a complete account of its armament. The tables in Ships of the Royal Navy distinguish a large 32-gun sixth rate from a common 32-gun sixth rate. After an initial misreading is corrected, the large version has twenty-six 18-pounders and the common version twenty-six 12-pounders. Their nominal rating is the same, but their main batteries fire different weights of shot. The reference also separates rating systems by period, so each rating needs its historical context.
Notable Point · 42:15-44:06
Why two 32-gun ships could have different fighting power
Royal Navy rating tables distinguish large and common 32-gun ships because the same gun count could conceal different armament.