Of the third, fifth, and sixth rates, and of the sloops, on the other hand, increasingly greater numbers were built. There was no tendency to add to the number of the first and second rates-vessels which were only useful for special purposes, and which, as late as the middle of the eighteenth century, it was customary to lay up every winter. But, from the death of George I onwards, the Navy grew enormously. Nevertheless there was, even in those days, an increase in the total tonnage. 12th, 1714, the number of ships belonging to the Royal Navy showed no increase, but rather a slight diminution. ![]() Many of these ships were captured and became British men-of-war but, owing to the Admiralty regulations which limited the dimensions of each class, British shipbuilders were seldom allowed to profit by the improved models.įor several years after the death of Queen Anne on Aug. Critics charged that class for class, Britain's enemies' ships were larger, sailed better, carried their guns higher out of the water, and accommodated larger crews than Britain's. ![]() Throughout the long series of battles which decided the supremacy of the British naval power - between 17 - British ships were notoriously said to be inferior to those of France and Spain.
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