Fifth Rate
Fifth Rate
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 them 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.
五级舰
护卫舰是一种单甲板战舰。得益于良好的火力，机动性和续航力的完美结合，它可以承担多种任务：追击，护航，拦截商船和侦查。
“五级舰”是一个皇家海军用于军舰分级的专用术语，一般用来指最大型的，装备44门12磅炮的单甲板横帆护卫舰。护卫舰由法国首先设计建造，后来迅速为各国效仿。出色的设计使护卫舰—特别是在近海水域—拥有无可比拟的操纵性和机动力，这使得护卫舰在执行封锁港口任务时特别有效。另外，优秀的续航力使护卫舰能够离港远航，将战斗带到敌人意想不到的地方。
在波涛汹涌的洋面上，护卫舰比大型双甲板战舰更占优势—护卫舰的炮甲板几乎不可能进水。因此，护卫舰可以在对大型战舰不利的天侯（比如大浪，暴风雨）下从容作战。但是，五级舰无法直接面对战列舰的炮火—它们连一轮舰炮齐射都挺不过—而是通过速度和机动性优势躲开战列舰的炮口。然而，对单桅帆船，双桅帆船和商船来讲，护卫舰是致命的，这使得许多军官垂涎护卫舰舰长的职位和随之而来的捕获赏金和荣誉。
真实历史中护卫舰舰长的辉煌事迹成为了许多虚构故事的原型：霍雷肖· 霍恩布洛尔和杰克· 奥布里的原型托马斯· 科克伦勋爵，通过捕获赏金发了大财，并获得了“海狼”的绰号。
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