Author Note
A brief explanation regarding some of the content in this book.
1. Regarding the classification of naval warships.
It is based essentially on the classification system established by Samuel Pepys, Secretary of the British Admiralty, at the end of the 17th century (which underwent several subsequent modifications):
First-Rate Battleship: 100 to 132 guns (three gun decks), a crew of over 900, and a displacement of 2,500 to 3,500 tons.
Second-Rate Battleship: 86 to 98 guns (three gun decks), a crew of 750, and a displacement of over 2,200 tons.
Third-Rate Battleship: 74 to 80 guns (two gun decks), a crew of 500 to 700, and a displacement of 1,500 to 1,800 tons.
Fourth-Rate Battleship: 50 to 60 guns (two gun decks), a crew of 320 to 420, and a displacement of 900 to 1,200 tons.
Fifth-Rate Cruiser: 32 to 44 guns (one gun deck), a crew of 250, and a displacement of 600 to 800 tons.
Sixth-Rate Frigate: 20 to 28 guns (one gun deck), a crew of 180, and a displacement of 400 to 500 tons.
By the end of the 18th century, First and Second-Rate Battleships had become largely symbolic. Although they could carry a massive number of cannons, they were relatively cumbersome. Furthermore, because the center of gravity was so high, the uppermost of the three gun decks could only mount light cannons, which were of little use in ship-to-ship duels.
In contrast, a Third-Rate Battleship could carry heavy cannons on both of its decks, providing firepower that was not significantly inferior to First or Second-Rate ships. At the same time, with only two decks, the center of gravity was lower, resulting in better seaworthiness than their larger counterparts.
Most importantly, the construction cost of a Third-Rate ship was far lower—only half that of a First-Rate and sixty percent of a Second-Rate—while its combat effectiveness reached eighty-five percent of a First-Rate ship.
Therefore, following the birth of the standard 74-gun Third-Rate ship, the main force of European navies consisted of a large number of Third-Rate Battleships, while First and Second-Rate ships were almost no longer built.
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2. Regarding the troop strength of the anti-French Coalition.
Historically, around 1798, it would have been impossible for countries like Britain, Prussia, and Austria to mobilize a massive army of 470,000 (and a mobilization capacity of 600,000 would likewise be unattainable).
However, under the heavy pressure from the Crown Prince, the current Prussia and Austria have been forced to implement various reforms ahead of schedule (historically, these did not begin until about ten years later).
Examples include the emancipation of serfs in Prussia, as well as various trade and tax reforms in Austria. These measures significantly improved their military mobilization capacity (and historically, they did indeed obtain much larger armies following these reforms).
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, considering the need to retain sufficient labor within France and his strategy of elite forces (high pay, advanced equipment, and high-intensity training), has not resorted to maximum mobilization.
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3. Principal Currency Exchange Rates.
1. French Currency: 1 Franc = 1 Livre = 0.3 grams of gold.
1 Franc = 10 Sou. 1 Sou = 10 Denier. (Under the old currency system, 1 Livre = 20 Sou, and 1 Sou = 12 Denier).
2. British Currency: 1 Pound Sterling = 7.3 grams of gold = 24.4 Francs.
1 Pound Sterling = 20 Shillings. 1 Shilling = 12 Pence.
3. Russian Currency: 1 Ruble = 1.2 grams of gold = 4 Francs (In reality, the gold content of the Ruble was constantly decreasing).
4. Prussian Currency: 1 Thaler = 16.7 grams of silver = 3.7 Francs.
5. Germany: 1 Florin = 11.7 grams of silver = 2.5 Francs.
1 Florin = 5 Thalers = 20 Groschen.
1 Thaler = 12 Kreuzer.
6. Poland: 1 Złoty = 0.6187 grams of gold = 2.03 Francs.
1 Złoty = 30 Groschen.
1 Florin = 1.5 Złoty.
7. Ottoman Currency: 1 Kuruş (approximately 22 grams of silver at most) = 3 Francs.
1 Sultani (approx. 2.7 grams of gold) = 1 Ducat = 60 Akçe.
1 Akçe = 0.7 grams of silver = 0.1 Francs.
8. North Africa Currency: 1 Riyal = 6.3 grams of gold = 21 Francs.
9. Venice Currency: 1 Ducat = 3.545 grams of gold = 11.7 Francs.
10. Netherlands Currency: 1 Dutch Guilder (3.7 grams of gold) = 12.5 Francs.
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