The rating system also described procurement roles. First rates justified exceptional expense as flagships and concentrated striking power, third rates delivered battle-line volume, and fifth rates supplied numerous cruising ships. Second and fourth rates occupied less attractive middle price points, which helps explain why navies built fewer of them. The framework allocated money and crews across missions while ranking ships by armament.
Notable Point · 41:15-43:06
Rated warships filled different fleet price points
First rates concentrated prestige and maximum force, while third and fifth rates supplied the affordable mass a fleet needed.