Kentish Knock was not a contest fought only by imposing flagships. Sovereign and Resolution were major English warships, but vessels comparable to later fourth rates formed most of the English force, making the action largely a frigate battle. The Dutch list combines ships from several admiralties, the VOC, and private owners, with Amsterdam alone supplying seventeen of the sixty-eight vessels discussed. Each admiralty also wanted a rear admiral present to represent its interests, so political representation shaped the command hierarchy. Brederode was the only 54-gun purpose-built Dutch warship in the list, yet its crew had refused de With. The larger Dutch vessels often retained merchant-hull limits on speed and manoeuvrability, which mattered once the fleet had to fight as a coordinated formation.
Chapter · 27:40-34:44
Fleet composition and merchant-built warships
The orders of battle show a fight dominated by smaller ships and a Dutch force whose larger vessels often retained merchant-hull limitations.