You probably don't know much about 18th Century Naval Warfare (because you don't know much about anything at all), so here's a rundown of some of the types of vessels you're likely to encounter. FRIGATES - these are long, relatively light vessels with a lot of guns - more than 28, if you want to get technical about it. Frigates were light and easily maneuvrable, so they were often used for reconnaisance, or escorting merchant vessels. "Frigate" is also a terrific word to use if you want to swear but your mother-in-law is nearby.