The British silver-carrying squadron had skilled crews and heavy protection, making it an unattractive target for American frigates. As the war continued, additional British third rates strengthened the blockade. American first rates under construction offered greater individual fighting power, but they were scattered and would generally have entered service separately. The hypothetical confrontation places one first rate with a green crew against three or four third rates, sometimes accompanied by a second rate. Completing a powerful ship would therefore leave the problem of assembling and training a force capable of breaking the blockade.
Notable Point · 41:07-42:48
Could American first rates break the British blockade?
An individual American first rate with an inexperienced crew would face concentrated British blockade squadrons containing several ships of the line.