XPost: sci.military.naval 
 From: abuse@hotmail.com 
  
 "Jeff Dixon"  wrote in message 
 news:b31be569.0409151716.1d255092@posting.google.com... 
  
 > Why did the British and French ship designs differ so much? I realize 
 > the differences might be influenced by the purposes each navy was 
 > intended to serve, but, generally, why were there such differences? 
  
 Different missions. 
  
 RN ships tended to spend a lot of time at sea and expected to fight in big 
 battles. 
  
 French ships spent a lot of time in port and expected to go out and run fast 
 to get away from the inevitable British fleet waiting for them. 
  
 The British made strong ships with loads of guns. 
  
 The French made fast ships with loads of sails. 
  
 -- 
 William Black 
 ------------------ 
 Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords 
 is no basis for a system of government 
  
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