A typical 74 carried 28- to 36-pounders on the lower deck and 18- to 24-pounders above, with smaller guns higher in the ship. This gave it enough firepower for the line at less cost than a first or second rate. The hull was close to the practical upper length for a two-deck ship that still retained the rigidity to sail well; adding more gunports could create flex and cancel the expected speed gain. British hull forms sacrificed some peak speed for stores and ocean endurance, so their 74s could finish a long passage in better condition to fight.
Notable Point · 27:19-31:24
Gun power, hull rigidity, and ocean endurance
Gun weight, hull length, rigidity, and ocean endurance made the 74 a strong compromise between firepower and sailing performance.