Database: The Ships of the Navy

Mounting up to a hundred cannon—many more than the number serving on a battlefield—British ships in the colonies had incredible firepower. These ships were difficult to steer and were mainly used for the classic fleet battle which consisted of forming lines and firing at each other. The lighter ships were used for the French–inspired commerce raiding which consisted in hunting down merchant ships to disrupt the logistics of the enemy. They could also sail closer to the shore. In both cases, the battle did not focus on sinking the enemy ship but on dismasting it. The iconic pirate-style boarding remained exceptional! When damaged or after some 20 years of service, ships were laid up and scrapped. Some could then be used as prison-ships.