Quote:
Originally Posted by glyn
And the rate at which broadsides can be fired. That was the thing at which the Royal Navy endlessly practiced and which gained it its place as the worlds finest navy. It is idiocy to imagine that the USS Constitution would best the Victory when it is taking half ton hits repeatedly.
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That RoF might be true of British Frigates, but ships of the line were crewed by reserves and impressed men and crew wise were at a decided disadvantage to the professional American (many of them British sailors) sailors.
One might argue that the effective amount of shot making contact on the other was nearly even or in favor of the Americans given the presumably superior accuracy and higher rate of fire of the American crews vs the British reserve crews combined with the two ships speed and agility.