A fleet's center was an obvious target because splitting the line could isolate one half for defeat. First rates concentrated enough guns, structure, and command capacity to anchor that vulnerable center and engage several enemy capital ships. Commanders such as Rodney, St Vincent, Nelson, Collingwood, and Duncan then turned the same concentrated power toward breaking an opponent's formation. Their expense made little sense for routine numerical mass, but nothing smaller could substitute when the fleet needed that concentration of force.
Notable Point · 2:48:04-2:50:24
First rates anchor and break the battle line
First rates initially supplied the mass and firepower to hold a fleet's center before aggressive commanders used them to smash through enemy lines.