TOTAL WAR WIKI

Fifth Rate (ETW unit)

Fifth Rate
Fifth Rate
Faction: France Great Britain Russia Spain United States
Range: 500 500 500 500 500 500
Accuracy: 60 70 60 60 60 60
Reloading skill: 40 40 55 40 40 50
Hull strength: 2716 2790 2856 2716 2716 2856
Speed: 17 18 17 17 17 17
Maneuverability: Med. Med. Med. Med. Med. Med.
Morale: 8 8 9 8 8 9
Turns to build: 2 2 2 2 2 2
Recruitment cost: 1280 1410 1300 1310 1270 1260
Upkeep cost: 320 350 320 320 310 310
Requires
Building (minimum level)
Etw eu port military lvl2.png

Dockyard

Frigates are single-deck warships, used for a variety of tasks thanks to a combination of good handling, firepower and endurance at sea.

“Fifth rate” is a Royal Navy term for the largest of the single-deck frigates, square-rigged ships that carry some 44 guns, usually no heavier than 12-pounders. Originally a French design – but quickly adopted by the other European powers – the frigate is used for pursuit, convoy protection, commerce raiding and reconnaissance work. The design’s excellent sailing characteristics and good handling, especially in inshore waters, make it a useful addition to any blockading fleet. The frigate’s ability to operate far away from a home port also makes it a useful cruiser, carrying the fight to the enemy in unexpected waters.

Frigates can have the advantage over larger, two-deck ships in rough waters. A frigate captain rarely has to worry about his gun deck taking on water, and can therefore fight in conditions that leave bigger ships at a disadvantage. However, fifth rates are not powerful enough to face battleships. They have the speed and handling to stay out of trouble; they do not have the strength of construction to survive a pounding! Against sloops, brigs and merchantmen, however, they are deadly. This makes them excellent postings for officers hungry for prize money and glory.

Frigates captains made splendid role models for fictional heroes: Thomas, Lord Cochrane earned a fortune in prize money, gained the nickname “le loup des mers” (sea-wolf) and was the inspiration for fictional heroes Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey.

Technological abilities

Top Gallants

Available for:

Austria France Great Britain Maratha Confederacy Ottoman Empire Poland-Lithuania
Prussia Russia Spain Sweden United Provinces United States

External links