Second Rate Ship of the Line (ETW unit)
| Second Rate Ship of the Line | ||||
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| Faction: |  |
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| Range: | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Accuracy: | 30 | 40 | 30 | 30 |
| Reloading skill: | 10 | 10 | 25 | 20 |
| Hull strength: | 6486 | 6620 | 6796 | 6796 |
| Speed: | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| Maneuverability: | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Morale: | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Turns to build: | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Recruitment cost: | 2650 | 2680 | 2720 | 2680 |
| Upkeep cost: | 660 | 670 | 680 | 670 |
| Requires | ||||
| Building (minimum level) | ||||
 Drydock | ||||
The second rate is a three-deck “Battle Ship of the Line” carrying up to 98 cannons, a powerful unit in any fleet.
This three-deck warship is a compromise design between the firepower of a first rate ship and the sea-keeping qualities of a third-rate 74. Like many compromises, the result is something that pleases few, but the extra weight of the broadside does compensate for poor sailing qualities. The design does have one unexpected benefit: enemy captains are often quick to identify second rates as much larger ships and, as a result, flee from a “much superior” enemy!
The lower gun deck houses 32-pounders, and this explains the “tumblehome” shape of all ships of the period: the bulge at water level and just above in the hull allowed more room on the lower decks for the recoil of large cannons; the lighter guns on the higher decks did not recoil as much.
Historically, only the British Royal Navy commissioned many ships of this rating; other nations simply built first rates instead. This might be due to the Royal Navy needing to keep large ships on foreign stations as flagships, an assignment that would have been wasteful and expensive for a first rate.
Technological abilities
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