Historical Background
The English 4th Rate class of vessels was around 1000 tons, with two decks of 50-60 guns. They were considered the smallest of the ships of the line until 1756, when they were no longer counted unless they had a minimum of 60 guns. The Dutch 4th Charter class fielded fewer cannons (44-56) but included larger 18-pounder weapons. With a crew complement of 320 to 420 men, they were not cheap to maintain.
Larger than many ships and having two full decks with more accommodations, they were useful as flagships in small fleets. Because they had a shallower draft than the larger ships of the line, the English Royal Navy deployed many of them in the North Sea and the English Channel to protect against invasion.
The Ships of the Line of the French were often lighter and thus more maneuverable and faster. However, they often lacked the storage capacity for longer voyages at sea, limiting their range of deployment. The English ships were more able to withstand harsh weather conditions and had more durability. This suited them for the role of blockading enemy harbors where they may have to remain at sea for months at a time.
4th Rate Ship of the Line Ship Analysis
| Attribute | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maneuverability | 50% | ||||
| Speed | 67% | ||||
| Durability | 71% | ||||
| Firepower | 69% | ||||
| Brawling | 67% |
4th Rate Ship of the Line Overview & Tactics
This is the smallest of the Ships of the Line, but it still packs a wallop of a punch for its point value. With 8 Broadside dice, 3 Fortitude, and High Freeboard it has an excellent blend of firepower, durability, and speed.
This ship can be customized for boarding with Additional Crew and taking other upgrades such as Boarding Party, Buccaneers, Corsairs, Marines or Swashbucklers gives it a bonus to Close Combat. Taking Kapers is another good option to keep Fatigue low.
If playing English or French, taking Additional Guns and Swift makes it an excellent ranged gunship. As the Spanish, adding Stout makes it an excellent tanking flagship that can shrug off a lot of damage in 100-point games.
Pros
- Fast and maneuverable especially for its size
- Solid durability
- Solid firepower
- Extremely flexible in how to upgrade it as you can improve speed, durability, or firepower.
- An excellent option for a boarding ship in high-point games.
Cons
- The ship is the smallest of the Ships of the Line so you can get overconfident in its abilities
- As it is a Ship of the Line, you can’t take it in a 50 pt game.
Product Referral Links
- This ship is available in the Men of War expansion pack for Oak & Iron