Camperdown's lopsided captures and casualties

The fleets were closely matched at sixteen British ships of the line against fifteen Dutch, so overwhelming numerical superiority did not produce the result. Duncan's force captured nine Dutch ships of the line, or sixty percent of the opposing battlefleet, as well as two frigates and nearly four thousand personnel. British losses were a little over two hundred killed and 622 wounded, against much heavier Dutch casualties. Adding first rates would not explain the victory better than leadership, sailing, and fighting performance. Because the sea can absorb a fleet's strength across countless tasks, the largest ships should be reserved for jobs only they can perform. Third rates were fully capable of deciding major fleet actions when properly employed.