Ship of the line

In the age of sail (up to the late 19th century), a 'ship of the line\' was a warship powerful enough to take a place in the line of battle. (The term "battleship" has a similar etymology.) Generally, this meant a third-rate or larger ship, with guns on two or more decks. Rated ships smaller than this were frigates, which carried all their guns on a single deck.

The rating system of the Royal Navy

\nDuring the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Royal Navy used the following rating system for its warships: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Type	Rate	Guns	Gun decks	Men	Displacement in tonnes
Ship of the line	1st Rate	100 or more	3 + forecastle and quarterdeck	850 to 875	>2000
	2nd Rate	90 to 98	3 + forecastle and quarterdeck	700 to 750	about 2000
	3rd Rate	64 to 80	2	500 to 650	1300-1600
Frigate	4th Rate	50 to 60	2	320 to 420	about 1000
	5th Rate	32 to 40	1	200 to 300	700 to 1450
	6th Rate	20 to 28	1	140 to 200	450 to 550
Sloops		16 to 18	1	90 to 125	380
Gun-brigs and Cutters		6 to 14	1	5 to 25	<220

The number of crew on a first rate was increased by 25 when used as an Admiral's flagship, by 20 with a Vice Admiral and 15 with a Rear Admiral. Originally from http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/gen1.htm, with the author's permission.

In fiction

\nIsaac Asimov adapted the term "ship of the Line" to apply to the armed spaceships which served a similar role to the old naval vessels for the Galactic Empire of his Foundation trilogy, as mainstays of the space fleet. Category:Ship types