Strachan's flagship at Cape Ortegal was the 80-gun third rate HMS Caesar. The Royal Navy built many more standard 74-gun third rates, while ships such as Caesar belonged to a smaller group of experimental designs. Their continued employment suggests that commanders found them useful for particular stations and operational requirements. Caesar links Strachan's record as a fleet commander to the material choices behind the ships available to him.
Notable Point · 23:31-24:13
HMS Caesar and the Royal Navy's 80-gun experiments
HMS Caesar belonged to the relatively unusual 80-gun third rates that supplemented the Royal Navy's mass production of 74-gun ships for particular roles and stations.