Admiral's Flagship, 1st Rate (ETW Unit)

Admiral's Flagship, 1st Rate (ETW Unit)
Class	1st Rate
Unit Size	264 men
Weaponry	102 guns
Morale
Melee Attack
Ranged Attack
Defence
Charge Bonus
Accuracy
Range
Ammunition
Region	Global
Recruitment Cost	3630
Upkeep Cost	900
Turns to Build
Unit Limit
Building Requirements	Steam Drydock
Technology Requirements	None
Attributes	Broadside

The first rate is the largest type of “ship of the line of battle”, intended to be the command ships at the centre of any fleet.

Overview

While these warships are among the most powerful vessels afloat, they are poor sailors, being both slow and unresponsive. This is not a serious shortcoming because, armed with around 100 cannons firing 32, 24 and 18-pounder balls on their three decks, they can fire a terrible and destructive broadside. They carry a crew of over 800 sailors, gunners and marines and have more artillery than most land armies. Their cost, however, is a drawback and few navies can afford to build or maintain more than a handful of them. Their great size, however, means that an admiral and his staff can be carried with little disruption to the normal working of the ship.

One first rate flagship never even reached the sea! The British Royal Navy’s HMS St Lawrence was built, launched and served only on Lake Ontario. Shallow rapids meant that few vessels could reach the lake from the sea, and Niagara Falls prevented any ship from leaving the lake in the other direction.

Details

Though very expensive, these ships are the equal or superior in terms of firepower and morale to almost every other warship in the game (with the exception of the Heavy First Rate. The dedicated flagships are no exception to this, boasting higher morale and hull strength. Certainly, if the opposing fleet is made up of vessels smaller than this one, it is unlikely that the battle will take very long. As with any ship of the line however these ships are best used in groups, or at the very least with the support of other vessels of their class. A 1st Rate caught on its own and surrounded, even if it is only surrounded by smaller vessels, will find it very difficult indeed to break out and win the day.