The rebuild history of Prince Royal shows why rating labels cannot be treated as fixed from launch. She began as a 55-gun royal ship, was rebuilt as a 70-gun ship, and only later became a 92-gun first rate in the familiar mold. Her dimensions, tonnage, and armament shifted across major rebuilds, making the continuity of the ship's identity as interesting as the changing classification. Her capture by the Dutch in 1666 also shows that such investment could become an enemy's prize rather than a permanent national asset.
Chapter · 34:54-38:23
Prince Royal and the rebuild path to first-rate status
The Prince Royal example shows how a ship could move from royal ship to first rate through rebuilds, larger dimensions, and changing gun counts.