The English fleet facing the Armada in 1588 combined ships owned by the crown with hired vessels and privateers contracted under different arrangements. Such mixed forces complicate attempts to assign a single founding date to a navy. Many merchant ships and warships differed chiefly in the number of cannon carried and the internal space allocated to fighting. Large purpose-built vessels remained recognizable exceptions. For many smaller ships, reallocating space and armament made a change of role comparatively easy.
Notable Point · 12:17-13:42
Why early modern fleets mixed warships and privateers
Early modern fleets could combine crown ships, hired merchantmen, and privateers because armament and internal use often mattered more than hull type.