Q&A · 2:32:22-2:32:35

How large was a sixty-gun ship in the 1670s?

A sixty-gun ship was near the upper end of ordinary battle-fleet size, roughly occupying the place later associated with third rates.

Age Of Sail Ships of the Line Warship Classification

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Question

Were sixty-gun ships among the largest warships during this period?

Short answer

Yes; ships later classed as third rates were close to first-rate fleet units in the 1670s, though a few larger ships existed.

Notes

A sixty-gun ship was roughly among the largest common warships of this period, although larger ships existed. Ships that would later be called third rates occupied something closer to a first-rate position in the fleets of the 1670s.