The sister ships look like powerful 74-gun third rates despite carrying heavier nominal batteries. Franklin's two complete gun decks show the family's line-of-battle form, while Washington's covered building slip reveals substantial infrastructure investment. Columbus's sail plan was arranged to draw useful power from each sail and suggests careful naval architecture. Their construction reflects a capable industrial base rather than a crude emergency effort. The criticism is institutional: American projects were often completed to a very high standard or abandoned altogether.
Notable Point · 42:05-44:13
The Independence class shows American shipbuilding quality
Franklin's gun decks, Washington's covered slip, and Columbus's sail plan display a sophisticated industrial base when funding was sustained.