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What duties did frigates perform for sailing battle fleets?
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USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy, in the Indian Ocean, 2005.
During the age of sail, frigates served as essential, fast-moving consorts to the larger ships of the line. Because they were smaller and faster than the principal vessels of the fleet, they were not intended to stand up to ships of the line in direct fleet engagements.123
Instead, frigates performed the following critical duties:
- Scouting: They acted as the eyes of the fleet, patrolling and gathering intelligence.123
- Escort: They protected merchant convoys from enemy raiders and privateers.13
- Commerce Raiding: They cruised the seas to attack and capture enemy merchant vessels.123
- Patrol and Blockade: They were frequently utilized in blockade operations and general maritime patrol duties.2
These versatile vessels carried their main battery on a single gun deck, typically mounting between 24 and 56 guns, which provided significant firepower despite their smaller size compared to the massive, three-decked ships of the line.23