Ships of the Line

A bit of nautical trivia (though not trivial to naval historians): Many people assume the term “ship of the line” refers to a liner. The modern Queen Mary 2, the ill-fated Lusitania and the 19th-Century Britannia are famous examples of Cunard Line ocean liners. The Titanic and Olympic were White Star liners.

Actually, a ship of the line was a vessel of a warship fleet in centuries past, when major sea battles were fought in broadsides. Opposing fleets would form literal line formations and sail or steam past each other parallel, blasting away with their cannons. Those still able to maneuver would turn about and make another pass, firing the guns from the other side of their ships of the line.

The largest ships of the line each carried more than 100 guns -- astounding fire power. Most carried at least 60 guns, although in certain situations, vessels with as few as 40 guns were included in line battles.