Game Mechanics - Units - Fleet units | Units Empire: TW Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
24-pounder frigate
Description: this type of frigates is ideal for whose who want to use some fast and well armed ship. It's firepower is somewhere between Fourth Rate Ship of the Line and Fifth Rate Ship of the Line, but it moves a lot of faster and its more agile.
Fleets: Thirteen Colonies
Admiral's Flagship, 1st Rate
Description: a huge unit that has a very long shooting range and enormous firepower. It has a lot of cannons and the crew is very numerous - that means it can fight with almost every known navy unit. It has, however, two major disadvantages: very big price and low speed.
Fleets: France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Great Britain
Admiral's Flagship, 3rd Rate
Description: good ship for the good price. It can destroy almost every enemy unit, but remember that you have to secure its stern with other ships. Do not put this vessel as a last one in the line astern formation.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Great Britain
Admiral's Flagship, 5th Rate
Description: it is a decent ship. Slightly worse than Fourth Rate Ship of the Line but it's faster and more agile. As with the rest of the navy units - its battle value is worth its price.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Great Britain
Bomb Ketch
Description: Explosive Shells needed. This vessel is very weak. It has only 6 cannons on the side and the durability isn't high. However it is equipped with a very good weapon - it can throw grenades to the enemy ship. As a matter of fact it can damage it and decimate its crew. The problem is that the reloading time is quite high - you must send many of them to the battle or use them only as a support.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Brig
Description: a very good ship at the beginning of the game. It is very cheap and you will be able to win couple of first battles. You must be careful, however. Develop your navy because your opponents can leave you behind very quickly. Then brigs wouldn't be enough for them.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Carronade Frigate
Description: Cannonade needed. It is a very weak and expensive vessel. It has a longer shooting range than brig, worse firepower and the price is much more higher. Its advantage is the durability of the hull. I do not recommend to build many of that ships. They can be used only as a support for stronger vessels.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Dhow
Description: a very small and weak ship - it can be used only as a trade vessel. It has only four big cannons so it is a very easy target even for the weak enemy units. Dhow must be always supported by the stronger ship. Try not to use them in battles.
Fleets: Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation
Fifth Rate
Description: this is a good ship, but only when they have to fight against weak units (like brigs or sloops). When you have them at the beginning of the game then all naval battles will be very simple. Later just change them with stronger units.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
First Rate Ship of the Line
Description: great but also very expensive ships. They are very durable, crew is numerous and they are equipped with lots of cannons. There is only one problem: they are depended on wind and in the age of steam ships it may cause some troubles. However I must recommend you this vessel: buy it when you have enough money.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Fluyt
Description: trade ship that is much more expensive than Indiaman, but the stats are almost the same. It can defend itself but in case of the huge attack it will need a support.
Fleets: Netherlands
Fourth Rate Ship of the Line
Description: it is good to eliminate small units (like brigs). They cannot fight very effectively with stronger ships (for example Third Rate Ship of The Line) but they can be a great support (especially at the beginning of the game).
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Galleon
Description: from all trade ships galleons have the best weapons in the game. Moreover their crew can be consisted of 200 men. As a matter of fact they can be used in normal battles (they are somewhere between the Fourth Rate Ship of the Line and the Third Rate Ship of the Line). The have two significant disadvantages: low speed and hull durability.
Fleets: Spain
Galley
Description: slightly better than Light Galley. It has more cannons but still is almost useless in many battles. You can use them to transport your agents and troops. When the route is safe, of course.
Fleets: Austria, Ottoman Empire, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden
Heavy First Rate
Description: It is a very huge and powerful ship. I think it will be enough to say that it has 122 cannons on its board. As a matter of fact it is a real nightmare for the enemy fleet. You should be careful with it however - because of its speed. Try to protect its bow and stern with smaller boats.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Indiaman
Description: this ship can be used mostly to trade with your colonies. If you don't have these units there is no point in going to Asia, Africa or both Americas. Indiamans can defend themselves but only from the smaller units (like galleys, sloops and brigs).
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Great Britain
Light Galley
Description: try do not use them in battles because they are very weak. You can transport your troops and agents with it (but be sure that routes are safe). They are very fast and agile (they are moving with oars).
Fleets: Austria, Ottoman Empire, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden
Razee
Description: pretty good ship mostly because of its durability, speed and agility. The bad thing is that is has very low firepower (similar to Fifth Rate Ships) - but it will be ideal of all player that likes to win battles with speed not strength.
Fleets: Austria, Spain, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Great Britain
Rocket Ship
Description: Explosive Rockets needed. The are shooting with rockets and they can be useful only to set the fire on the enemy board. The do not have any chances with First and Second Ships of the Line. That's why the always need to have an escort.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Great Britain
Second Rate Ship of The Line
Description: ship with numerous crew. It is very good for boarding operations and fights with cannons. It is not as fast as the rest of the vessels but it has more firepower. Second Rate Ships of The Line are also very expensive - but at the cost of the quality.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Sixth Rate
Description: Sixth Rate ships are good only in battles - do not use them for transporting. They do not have good firepower, but they can be used as a support and to escort of Indiamans. They can be handy at the beginning, later change them with more powerful units.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Great Britain
Sloop
Description: very weak vessel that you can build from the beginning. It even less powerful that brigs. I do not recommend to build them, maybe only when you want to keep them at harbours for defensive purposes.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Steamship
Description: as you may know this vessel is moving with steam engines. Its not as fast as many "wind units" but it can sail even when the wind direction is disadvantageous. It is not very powerful: only fifth and sixth rate ships can be defeated with it.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Great Britain
Third Rate Ship of The Line
Description: with this ship you can fight only in short distances. They are good in destroying enemy vessels mostly because of their firepower. You can use the for boarding operations too.
Fleets: Austria, France, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Marat Confederation, Prussia, Republic of Poland, Sweden, Thirteen Colonies, Great Britain
Xebec
Description: these units are very similar to galleys and dhows. XebecsXebecs are very fast (even with headwind) and agile. The bad thing is that they can be destroyed very quickly - hull is not durable. In big groups they can be dangerous, in small - you can destroy some brigs and sloops only.
Fleets: Ottoman Empire