Thirty-two guns marked the entry point for fifth rates, 38 guns a common middle level, and 44 guns a large, tough example. Ratings counted pierced gun positions rather than every weapon actually carried, so carronades and lighter top-deck guns complicate comparisons. The Royal Navy preferred large numbers of serviceable ships, backed by third rates, over a small group of exceptional frigates. A smaller navy could instead invest in a fifth rate strong enough to force an opponent to divert a ship of the line against it. The design and armament choices followed different fleet strategies.
Notable Point · 8:21-10:53
What gun counts miss about fighting value
A fifth rate normally ranged from 32 to 44 guns, but national fleet strategy determined how heavily each navy armed and built them.