I’m well aware that the USN SOL never saw combat during this period. The point is that they had them by 1830 which the game goes to. Thus the USN should have access to them without ambiguity since this game is covering a span of 130 years and not one specific ERA of campaign.
That doesn’t make sense though as the 3rd rate boxes have American flags in them. I feel the rule is conditional if you dont bring 1st-3rd rates then you can use over fitted and if you do bring them then you can’t. That’s how it reads as that’s the only national rule that seems to have a conditional value. Historically doesn’t make sense either as the rule book goes to 1830 and America had four 3rd rates by then.