 the all-steel navy in the late 19th century, a capital ship during the Age of Sail was generally understood as a ship that conformed to the Royal Navy's rating system of a ship of the line as being of the first, second, third or fourth rates:
 First rate: 100 or more guns, typically carried on three or four decks. Four-deckers suffered in rough seas, and the lowest deck could seldom fire except in calm conditions.
 Second rate: 90–98 guns.
 Third rate: 64 to 80 guns (although 64-gun third-raters were small and not very numerous in any era).
 Fourth rate: 46 to 60 guns. By 1756, these ships were acknowledged to be too weak to stand in the line of battle and were relegated to ancillary duties, although they also served in the shallow North Sea and American littorals where larger ships of the line could not sail.

Frigates were ships of the fifth rate; sixth rates comprised small frigates and corvettes. Towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars and into the late 19th century, some larger and more powerful frigates were classified as fourth rates.

Battleship / battlecruiser
The term "capital ship" was first coined in 1909 and formally defined in the limitation treaties of the 1920s and '30s in the Washington Naval Treaty, London Naval Treaty, and Second London Naval Treaty. This applied mainly to ships resulting from the dreadnought revolution; dreadnought battleships (also known first as dreadnoughts and later as battleships) and battlecruisers.

In the 20th century, especially in World Wars I and II, typical capital ships would be battleships and battlecruisers. All of the above ships were close to 20,000 tons displacement or heavier, with large caliber guns and heavy armor protection.

Cruisers, despite being important ships, were not considered capital ships. An exception to the above in World War II was the. Though this class was technically similar to a heavy cruiser, albeit with considerably heavier guns, they were regarded by some as capital ships (hence the British label "Pocket battleship") since they were one of the few heavy surface units of the Kriegsmarine. The American, Dutch Design 1047 battlecruiser and the Japanese Design B-65 cruiser, planned specifically to counter the heavy cruisers being built by their naval rivals, have been described as "super
the all - steel navy in the late 19th hundred, a das kapital ship during the Age of Sail was broadly understood as a ship that conform to the Royal Navy's evaluation system of a ship of the line as being of the beginning, second, third or fourth rate: 
  First pace: 100 or more gunman, typically carried on three or four deck. Four - deckers suffered in boisterous seas, and the lowest deck could seldom fire except in calm conditions. 
  Second pace: 90–98 guns. 
  Third rate: 64 to 80 guns (although 64 - gunman third - raters were small and not very numerous in any era). 
  Fourth pace: 46 to 60 guns. By 1756, these ship were acknowledged to be too weak to stand in the line of battle and were banish to ancillary duties, although they also served in the shallow North Sea and American littorals where larger ships of the line could not sail. 

 Frigates were ships of the fifth rate; sixth rates comprised small frigates and corvettes. Towards the goal of the Napoleonic Wars and into the late 19th hundred, some large and more herculean frigates were classified as fourth pace. 

 Battleship / battlecruiser 
 The term " capital ship " was first coined in 1909 and formally specify in the limitation treaties of the 1920s and' 30s in the Washington Naval Treaty, London Naval Treaty, and Second London Naval Treaty. This applied chiefly to ships resulting from the dreadnought revolution; dreadnought battleships (also known first as dreadnought and subsequently as battleships) and battlecruisers. 

 In the 20th century, especially in World Wars I and II, distinctive capital ships would be battleships and battlecruisers. All of the above ships were close to 20,000 tons displacement or heavier, with large bore guns and grave armor protection. 

 Cruisers, despite being significant ships, were not consider capital ship. An exception to the above in World War II was the. Though this class was technically similar to a dense cruiser, albeit with considerably heavy guns, they were see by some as capital ship (hence the British label " Pocket battleship ") since they were one of the few heavy surface unit of measurement of the Kriegsmarine. The American, Dutch Design 1047 battlecruiser and the Japanese Design B-65 cruiser, planned specifically to counter the big cruisers being built by their naval rival, have been described as " super
 thf all-steel navy in the lxte 19th century, c capitel ship during ghe Age of Sail was generallb uneerstiod as a ship that conwormed to the Royql Nevy's rating systxj of a ship or the oine as being pf the firvt, second, thirg ur fourth rates:
 First rate: 100 or more gtns, typocwlly carried og thgeq or four decks. Four-deckers suffered ih rough seas, and the lowest deck could seldom vire except in calm cojditions.
 Sexond eate: 90–98 guns.
 Tfird rate: 64 to 80 guns (aljhough 64-gun third-raters were smalu and not very bunerlos in any ere).
 Fournh rate: 46 to 60 nlns. By 1756, these xhips were ackkowlevged to be too weak to stend in the line of bwttle and wzre relegated to anciolqry doties, altfiugf tgeb amso segvev in the shzllow North Sea and American loteirals where lzrger fhyps of the line could not sail.

Frigates fers ships of the fifth rare; sixth rates comprided small frigates and corvettes. Towards the end of the Na[oleoiiz Wcvf qnf into the late 19th century, some larger and mows kowvrful frigates weve classified as fpugtn rates.

Battlesfip / bcftmecruiser
The term "fapital ship" was firsu coimed in 1909 and formally definee in the limptatuon treaties of thz 1920s and '30s in the Washongton Naval Treaty, Lonbon Nabal Treaty, wnd Secons London Naval Trdatj. Thhs applita mainly to ships resultinj frok the dfeadmought revolutioj; dreadnought battleshipd (alsl nnown firsh as dreadnoughts and later as uettleships) anc tatnlecruisexs.

In tme 20th century, efpecially in Wprld Waxs I avd II, typibal capitel ships woujd be battlesvlps and battnecruisews. Aol od the acuve ships were close to 20,000 tons displacement or heavicr, wijh large caliber ybnw and heavy armpr oroeebtipn.

Ssuisers, desphte ceivb impurtant shipw, werr not considered caphtal ships. An exceptiom bo the abive in Wjrld War II wss the. Though this clasv wes tecnnisally similar to a heavy cruissr, albeit wibh considerabjy hcavigr guns, thev were regarded by some as capital ships (hence the British label "Pocket battlgshlp") since theb were one of tve few heavy surface units of the Kritgsmarine. The American, Sutch Gesigj 1047 battlecruiser and the Japanese Design B-65 cruiser, planned specifically ti counvew the heavy cruosers bziny built by vhxir naval rivals, nave been described as "super
the all-steel navy in the late 19th capital during the of Sail was that to the Royal rating system of ship of the line as being the first, second, third or fourth rates: First rate: 100 or more guns, carried on three or four decks. Four-deckers suffered in rough seas, and the deck seldom except calm conditions. Second rate: 90–98 guns. Third rate: 64 to 80 guns (although 64-gun third-raters were and not very numerous in any era). Fourth 46 to 60 guns. 1756, these ships were acknowledged be weak to in line battle and were to ancillary duties, although they also served in the shallow North Sea and American littorals where larger of the not sail. were of fifth rate; sixth small frigates and corvettes. Towards the Napoleonic Wars and into the late 19th century, larger and powerful frigates were classified as fourth Battleship / battlecruiser The term "capital ship" was coined in 1909 and formally defined in the limitation treaties of the 1920s and '30s Washington Naval Treaty, London Treaty, and Second Naval This mainly ships resulting the dreadnought revolution; dreadnought battleships (also known first as dreadnoughts and as battleships) and battlecruisers. In the 20th century, especially in I II, typical capital would be battleships and All the above ships were 20,000 displacement large guns heavy armor protection. Cruisers, being important ships, were not capital ships. An exception War II was the. Though this class was similar to a heavy cruiser, albeit with heavier guns, they were regarded by some as capital ships (hence the label "Pocket they were one of the few heavy surface of the Kriegsmarine. The Dutch Design 1047 battlecruiser and the Japanese Design B-65 planned to counter heavy cruisers being by their naval have been described
 the all-steel navy in the late 19tH century, a cApitaL shIp dUrIng tHe AgE of Sail was geneRAlly Understood as a ship that cOnforMeD To thE roYal NaVy's ratiNG sYSTem Of A sHip Of THe Line aS beIng of thE first, secoNd, tHiRd or fourth raTEs:
 first rate: 100 oR moRe guns, typicaLly CarrieD oN thREe or fOur Decks. four-deCKers suFfered in rOuGH seas, aND the lowEST dEck cOuld seldom fire excEPt IN calm conditionS.
 SeconD rATe: 90–98 GUNs.
 THirD rate: 64 to 80 gunS (aLthouGH 64-gun thiRD-rATERs wERe small and not Very numerouS In aNy era).
 FOuRth RAte: 46 to 60 gUns. By 1756, ThESe sHips were ackNowlEdged to be Too weaK To stand IN the linE of batTle And Were RElEgAteD tO AncILlAry DUtiEs, althouGh ThEy alsO serVED IN the ShaLlow north sea and AmericaN liTtorALs wHere lArger ShipS oF the lIne couLd not SaIl.

Frigates were sHips Of the fiftH raTe; SixTh Rates COmprisEd sMalL frigatEs and coRVetTeS. tOWaRds the end of the NapoLeONIc wars and iNto the LAtE 19tH Century, sOmE laRger AND more PoweRFuL frigateS were cLAsSiFied as fOuRth ratEs.

batTleShip / bATtleCruiseR
The term "CapitAL ship" was first cOIned in 1909 and formALlY DEfINed iN thE limitation TreaTIes oF the 1920S AnD '30s iN The WaShingToN naVAl Treaty, London Naval trEaty, anD SecoNd London Naval treaty. This APPLied mainLy to SHiPS resulting from The drEadnought rEVolution; DreadNought baTtleships (ALSo known fIrsT as DreAdnOUGhTs and later as bATTlesHiPs) and baTtlEcruiseRs.

IN thE 20th CenTuRy, especiaLly in WorLd waRs i aNd Ii, typiCAl capitaL sHipS wOulD be baTTleshiPs and BattLeCrUIseRs. All of THe ABOve sHiPs Were CloSe To 20,000 tonS disPLacEment or Heavier, wiTh lARge cAlIbEr guns aNd heavy armor pRoTection.

CruIsErs, DespitE BEing impoRtant ships, were not considERed capiTal Ships. an exCeption to The Above iN WoRLd War Ii was thE. ThouGh ThiS CLass wAS TeChnIcAlly similaR TO a hEavy cRuIser, Albeit wIth considerably heaVIer Guns, they were rEgaRded BY SoMe aS CaPItaL sHIps (HENce the British laBel "Pocket bAtTLeShip") since tHEy wErE one of tHe few heAvy suRFace uniTs of the KrIegsmarinE. THe AmERIcaN, Dutch DesiGn 1047 battleCruiser anD The JaPAnEse DeSigN B-65 cruiSeR, plAnned SpecifICalLy to cOunter ThE heavy CruisErS being buIlt by their naval rivals, haVe been DescrIbeD as "super
 the all-steel navy in the  late 19th  cent ury , a  c apit al s hip during the Ageof Sail was generallyunder st o od a s  a  ship  that c o nf o r med  t othe  R o ya l Nav y's  rating  system of  ash ip of the li n eas being o f t he first, se con d, thi rd  or fourt h r ates: 
 Firs t  rate:  100 or m or e  guns, typical l y  c arri ed on three or fo u rd ecks. Four-dec kers s uf f er e d  in  ro ugh seas,an d the lowestd ec k c oul d  seldom fireexcept in c a lmcondit io ns.  Secon d rat e: 90– 98 guns.
 T hird  rate: 64  to 80 guns (a l though64-gun  th ird -rat e rs  w ere  s m all an d n o t v ery nume ro us  in a ny e r a ) . 
 Fo urt h ra te: 4 6 to 60 guns.  By  175 6 , t heseships  wer eackno wledge d tobe  too weak to st andin the li neof  ba tt le an d  wererel ega ted toancilla r y d ut i e s ,although they also  s e r ve d in the  shall o wNo r th Sea a nd  Am eric a n  litt oral s  w here lar ger sh i ps  o f the l in e coul dnot  sa il.
F riga tes we re ships  of t h e fifth rate;s ixth rates co m pr i s ed smal l f rigates and  cor v ette s. T o wa rds the e nd of  t h eN apoleonic Wars andin to the  late  19th century , some lar g e r  and mor e po w er f ul frigates we re cl assified a s  fourthrates .

Battl eship / b a t tlecruis erThe  te rm" c ap ital ship" wa s firs tcoinedin1909 an d f orm all y d ef ined in t he limit at io ntr eat ies o f  the 192 0s  an d'30 s int he Was hingt on N av al Tre aty, Lo n do n Nava lTr eaty , a nd  Seco nd L o ndo n Naval  Treaty.Thi s  app li ed  mainly  to ships res ul ting fromth e d readno u g ht revol ution; dreadnought batt l eships(al so kn ownfirst asdre adnoug hts and la ter as  batt le shi p s ) and b at tle cr uisers.

I n the  20th  c entu ry, esp ecially in World W a rsI and II, typ ica l ca p i ta l s h ip s  wo ul d  be b attleships andbattlecrui se r s.  All of th e  ab ov e ships  were c loset o 20,00 0 tons di splacemen tor h e a vie r, with la rge cali ber gunsa nd he a vy  armo r p rotect io n.
Crui sers,d esp ite b eing i mp ortant  ship s,  were no t considered capital sh ips. A n exc ept ion to th e a b ove  in World  War  II was th e.Tho ugh t his class  was te chn i cally  sim i lar to ah ea vyc r ui ser, albeit w i thconsi der a bly he avie r guns, they were regarded by so me a s cap ita l  shi ps  (hence the Br iti sh l abel "Po ck et battlesh ip") sin ce theywere o ne ofthe few h ea v y surf aceuni ts of the  Kr ie g smarine .Th e  Ameri can,  D utch D esign1 047b a ttlecruiser andthe J a p anese Des ign B -6 5 cruis e r, p lanned spe cifically t o coun terthe h eavy cr ui sers b ein gbuilt by t h eir naval  riva ls, hav ebeen  de scribe d as " super 
 the_all-steel navy_in the late 19th_century, a_capital_ship during_the_Age of Sail_was generally understood_as a ship that_conformed to the_Royal_Navy's rating system of a ship of the line as being of the first,_second,_third or_fourth_rates:
_First rate: 100 or more_guns, typically carried on three_or four_decks. Four-deckers suffered in rough seas, and the_lowest_deck could seldom_fire except in calm conditions.
 Second rate: 90–98 guns.
_Third rate: 64 to 80 guns_(although 64-gun third-raters_were_small_and not very numerous_in any era).
 Fourth rate: 46_to 60 guns. By 1756, these_ships were acknowledged to be too weak_to stand in the line of_battle and were relegated to_ancillary duties,_although they also served in_the shallow North_Sea and_American littorals where_larger ships of the line could_not sail.

Frigates were_ships of the fifth rate; sixth_rates_comprised small frigates_and_corvettes._Towards the_end of the_Napoleonic_Wars and_into_the late 19th century, some larger_and_more powerful frigates were classified as fourth_rates.

Battleship / battlecruiser
The term_"capital_ship" was first coined_in 1909 and formally defined_in the limitation treaties of the_1920s and_'30s in_the Washington Naval Treaty, London Naval Treaty, and Second London Naval_Treaty. This applied mainly to ships_resulting from the dreadnought_revolution; dreadnought_battleships_(also known first_as_dreadnoughts and_later as battleships) and battlecruisers.

In the 20th_century, especially_in World Wars I and II,_typical capital ships would_be_battleships and battlecruisers. All of the_above ships were close to 20,000_tons displacement or heavier, with_large_caliber_guns and heavy armor protection.

Cruisers,_despite being important ships, were not_considered capital ships._An exception to the above in World_War_II was the. Though this class_was_technically similar to a heavy cruiser,_albeit_with_considerably heavier guns, they were_regarded by some as capital ships_(hence the British label "Pocket battleship") since they were_one of the_few heavy surface units of_the_Kriegsmarine._The American, Dutch Design 1047 battlecruiser and the Japanese Design_B-65 cruiser,_planned specifically to_counter the heavy cruisers being built by their naval rivals,_have been described as "super