Focus: Third Rates (1770 – 1830)

3^rd Rate vessels formed the bulk of a Navy’s fleet, a perfect compromise between size, power and manoeuvrability. We look at their role in Black Seas.

The Rating System

Britain’s Royal Navy introduced a system of rating the ships of its fleet based on the number of guns they carried. This rating system takes its name from the capability of a ship to withstand a line of battle (Ship of the Line). Initially introduced by Samuel Pepys in 1677, the rating system underwent numerous revisions until the late 1800s. After its introduction, the other nations also adopted very similar systems to categorise their ships. The French, for example, classified their ships into 5 ranges.

In Black Seas, we are for ease of purpose, exclusively utilising the British classification system. 3^rd rate ships count as large ships in the game.

Third Rates

HMS Bellepheron, a 74 gun 3rd Rate ship of the line.

A 3^rd rate ship, as defined by this system, was a ship of the line which mounted between 64-80 guns. Usually, this would mean two gun decks. Despite their relative size and power compared to the larger 1^st and 2^nd rates, it was considered that 3^rd rates maintained an effective, perhaps even superior balance between sailing ability, firepower and cost.

3^rd rates would thus become fairly common as the seventy-four gun ship folded neatly into this categorisation. It was the most popular size of ship for several navies of a number of nations; being cheaper to operate and easier to sail than 1^st or 2^nd rates, but still maintaining enough offensive capability to take on most single opponents (with the exception of three-decked ships).

Battle between the Téméraire-class French warship Droits de l’Homme and the British frigates Amazon and Indefatigable, 13 & 14 January 1797.

Officially, these classifications continued until the conclusion of the Age of Sail in 1862. However, at the end of the 18th century, ships began to be categorized directly by their number of guns. I.E a 74 gun 3^rd rate would simply be referred to as a 74-gunner.

In the Game

3^rd rates are likely to make up the bulk of the power in your fleet. They are not limited in the same way that 1^st or 2^nd rate ships are.  In creating your Black Seas fleets you are able to make a distinction when selecting 3^rd rates; they can be defined as large (74-gun) or small (64-gun). Though both are broadly categorised as large ships, the larger 3^rd rate benefits from an additional broadside carronade, and a light cannon on the stern. Both varieties are nimbler than the larger 1^st and 2^nd ships with a quicker rate of knots and are able to turn at tighter angles.

The Kits

The 3^rd rates plastic kit is designed to be highly customisable, with choices of Figurehead and stern allowing you to represent 3^rd rates from any nation.

Take to the Black Seas!

Begin your seafaring adventures with the Black Seas starter set. You’ll receive a selection of brigs and frigates; giving you the makings of a fine fleet.

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