Heavy First Rate

Heavy First Rate
Belongs to	Most Western factions
Crew	303
Guns	122 (57 on each side, 4 bow chasers, 4 stern chasers)
Firepower	2200
Range	400
Accuracy	20
Reloading skill	5
Hull strength	9570
Speed	13
Maneuverability	Low
Tech requirement	None
Produced from	Steam Drydock
Special abilities	Top Gallants
Cost	3980
Upkeep	990

The Heavy First Rate is a ship type in Empire: Total War.

Description

For some navies big is never quite big enough! This oversized "first rate ship of the line" is more a floating fortress than a mere battleship.

This 120-gun (or larger) "first rate" is larger than a normal ship of that class, and far more powerful than a simple count of guns would imply. The ship carries 32-, 24- and 18-pounders its decks, and wherever possible heavier guns to replace the standard cannon found on a normal first rate. The result is quite expensive, very powerful, very prestigious warship, but one that can have limited utility. Few nations could afford the expense of building and crewing such a vessel, or can operate it far from shore facilities for very long. Its sailing qualities might be charitable described as "lubberly": this is not a ship for chasing down enemies. All these drawbacks are secondary to its massive firepower and intimidating presence: this is a ship for dashing enemies to very small pieces!

Historically, only the Santisima Trinidad, a Spanish "super battleship" of four decks and some 136 guns, ever fought in action. Constructed as a three-decker she was enormous at 120 guns, ever before her reworking. She fought at Cape St Vincent (1797) and Trafalgar (1805), and foundered after the latter battle in a storm while being towed away as a prize. The American USS Pennsylvania (ordered 1821; completed 1837) never saw action. The US Navy destroyed her in 1860 to keep her out of Confederate hands.

General Information

The heavy first rate is the most expensive and powerful naval unit in the game. Carrying well over 100 cannons and boasting a massive crew, the heavy first rate is a force not to be taken lightly or contended with. Being the strongest and most powerful vessel afloat, the heavy first rate is also the slowest ship.

Heavy first rates shine their brightest when in the middle of the action: their thick hulls make them nearly invulnerable to fire from anything other than ships of the line, and their broadsides are enough to beat any ship into submission with just one or two salvos.

While their firepower per cannon are nominally weaker than that of a First Rate Ship of the Line, they more than make up for this with the extra cannons they bear.

Eastern and Indian factions cannot field first rates, although they can commandeer them if they can capture them intact. Some factions' ship statistics are different from others; differences are listed below (traits that to not differ are not listed).

Type	Accuracy	Reload Skill	Hull Strength	Speed	Morale	Cost	Upkeep
Standard	20	5	9570	11	11	3980	990
France	30	5	9818	12	11	4070	1010
Great Britain	20	20	10042	11	12	4040	1010
Russia	20	5	9570	11	11	3960	990
Spain	20	5	9570	11	11	3970	990
United States	20	15	10042	11	12	4010	1000

Gallery

Heavy first rate firing a massive broadside.