A warship used as a troop transport or store ship could be commissioned without being ready to fight as a full warship. Armed en flûte, it might retain only enough guns for one side, with the guns moved across as needed. Other vessels could land every cannon to free displacement for troops or stores. A reported 60-ship expedition might therefore include only 20 fighting ships, alongside 20 transports and 20 store ships. Headline fleet totals can be misleading when nominal warships are committed to an amphibious expedition's transport and supply system.
Notable Point · 11:03-12:37
When a commissioned warship counted as a transport or store ship
Ships of the line could be commissioned for logistics rather than combat, carrying reduced armament to make room for troops or expedition supplies.