|
Also the RN tradition relied on Frigates for its peace time force and flag bearers. Frigates their captains and crews were the equivalent of rock star astronauts for their time. The same cannot be said about ships of the line that were manned by reserve crews and captained by less promising officers who not matter how good were judged by the RN as unfit for a frigate command. In fact IIRC most RN ships of the line were kept in the equivalent of mothballs (laid up in ordinary) until war broke out and then manned by who ever was at hand.
The USS Constitution has an absolute edge in crew and officer quality in 1812.
Plus like Par alluded to she had better and newer construction with better materials, a speed and maneuverability advantage and barring losing a mast was all but immune at long range to the British guns. Wiki says the RN of the time considered the ships equal to a 4th rate ship of the line but required RN frigates to avoid contact unless it was 2-1 or better which is the equivalent of a 3rd rate ship.
|