24-pounder Frigate

24-pounder Frigate
Belongs to	United States
Crew	137
Guns	48 (23 on each side, two stern chasers)
Firepower	744
Range	300
Accuracy	60
Reloading skill	40
Hull strength	4654
Speed	20
Maneuverability	Medium
Tech requirement	None
Produced from	Drydock or higher
Cost	2080 SP/1360 MP
Upkeep	520

The 24-pounder Frigate is a ship type in Empire: Total War.

Description

A frigate is a single deck warship, used for independent cruises, commerce trading and convoy protection.

American frigates are stronger than those built by other nations, both in terms of the punishment they can sustain and in weight of broadside. The two factors are related: the design includes diagonal bracing, and thick planking, allowing a ship of this type to mount 24-pounder cannons in place of the usual 12-pounders carried aboard frigates. This American frigate still has all the traditional virtues of the type. It is a good sailor, and can operate far from home waters. It outguns other frigates, but has the necessary speed to escape from larger battleships.

Historically, the reasons for creating a large class of frigates were strategically sound for the fledgling United States. There was, of course, not shortage of suitable timber in American yards on the eastern seaboard to make ships to this design. More importantly, however, the designed recognised that America simply didn't have the manpower to create a navy to the European model. She needed ships that used relatively small crews for the amount of havoc they could cause!

General Information

Exclusive to the United States, 24-pounder frigates are frigates that boast good firepower and durability for their size. They are near-identical to European Razees, except with better hull strength. 24-pounder frigates are also similar to Fifth Rates, which have significantly less firepower and hull strength, but superior range.