MikeCK

Also, the cite link I provided stating that when the Rattlesnake was captured it had 6lbrs is in fact cited. Here is the citation: 5 The Royal Georgia Gazette [savannah], Tuesday, August 30, 1781, datelined New York, July 4, 1781

I guess we're kind of spinning our wheels. Fact is there aren't a lot of sources. Based on the sources that DO exist, it's entirely reasonable to believe the Rattlesnake was fast and carried 6 pounders. The Devs chose to because people wanted that in the game

Ok...you say there are "reputable sources" that she carried 4pounders...so what are they? What are the sources? Why are they reputable? Because you want them to be? How do you know that for every ship in this game the devs methodically researched hand written notes from the actual shipwrights and captains to determine speed and turn rates? Not sure why your on about the rattlesnake so much. They made it a fast but slow turning and moderately armed sloop, which is what is was. Not like they had NO sources. They just used some you don't like. The ship is not " a joke" or "tiny". It's a privateer designed to chase down either armed merchants or merchants escorted by sloops or corvettes.

Why aren't secondary sources good? Most information you get it from a secondary source. If you ever read a book about Any historical event, that's a secondary source. Unless you want to search through government archives and maritime museums, secondary sources are all you get for this type of thing. Either way it's what they used to model the ship. They made the ship fast and that's based on those sources. Put it this way, I have not seen any sources that would indicate the opposite. All seem to suggest it had 6 pound cannons and was very fast.sources. Neither the developers nor I are trying to prove that the ship was fast. The developers wanted to make the ship and they made it based on the best information they had available. If that secondhand information then so be it. I mean, how do we really know how the victory handled? Are they consulting the actual written documentation from the captains? Not likely. Probably got it from secondary sources which is fine. As it stands now the rattlesnake is fast because it probably really was fast. It carry 6 pound cans because it probably really did carry 6 pound cannons. You have to give it some kind of speed and turning...right? Whether it's 10 knots or 13. If you have to give it certain qualities and there are only secondary sources available for that what else are you going to use? If they chose to make the maximum speed 12 kn what would that be based on? They chose to limited to 4 pound cannons what would that be based on? It's all based on secondary sources and the ones I provided support the developers version of rattlesnake

Tried to edit above but couldn't. Here are the only 2 sources I could find. Both say she was fast and both say she was likely armed with 6 or even 9 pounders. Take it for what you will From: http://www.streport.com/files/rsnake1.htm "The Revolutionary War privateer RATTLESNAKE was designed in 1779-80....The original RATTLESNAKE was built in Plymouth Massachusetts. She carried up to 20 guns, ( six and nine pounders) and had a usual complement of 85 men. The vessel was unusually fast, and her hull lines were recorded by the British Admiralty after her capture and have come down to us today." From (as above) http://www.awiatsea.com/Privateers/R/Rattlesnake%20Massachusetts%20Ship%20[Clark].html Speed: " She was very lightly built and had no wales, and was reputedly very fast." Rattlesnake was captured and sent into New York, arriving on the evening of 8 July 1781. The British reported her as armed with twenty guns, probably 6-pounders."

Don't know. All I have is secondary sources. Those sources is what the game version is based on. The link I provided seems legitimate at any rate. BUT, that is why the rattlesnake in the game is the fastest ship at its best point...those sources; right or wrong. In the game it's a great ship for taking traders. It is a better fighter than a pickle, brig, snow or even navy brig. If you use the speed of the ship around points 100-260, you can take Mercuries and Niagaras. It's just not- in its real form or game form- intended to sail in a line or duke it out with frigates. It was built privately as a privateer. Use it as such in the game and there is nothing better. As for storage, as a privateer it wants designs to cruise the oceans. It likely did not need substantial stores

According to the Naval Action Wiki, the Rattlesnake in question is the 1781 rattlesnake. Yes, it was captured almost right out by a 44-gun frigate. There are a lot of factors there though including the wind gauge, weather and seaman ship. The captain was a privateer and likely not as skilled as a British Frigate Captain. Heck, even the best planes lose air to air engagements against better pilots in worse planes. You guys are being way to hard on the Rattlesnake. It was renowned at the time of launching for its speed on multiple points as well as handling. It was designed as an 20-gun sloop but built for privateering work. It was designed to chase down merchantmen and merchantmen escorted by a sloop or similar. To say is "too small" is misunderstanding the role. It wasn't designed to stand Toe-to-toe with frigates, let alone line ships. http://www.awiatsea.com/Privateers/R/Rattlesnake%20Massachusetts%20Ship%20[Clark].html