JebUSMC

To me its not about national pride here. Lets not forget that the United States became a nation during this time. Its those frigates of the American revolution and the super frigates as well as smaller ships that should be included. The US was heavily dependent during the revolution on the French navy. Not to crush the pride my countrymen feel but our fledgling little nation was just starting out during the age of sail and could barely afford to build, let alone operate, SOLs. Ultimately this game isn't about national pride in my opinion but about the glorious Age of Sail. Want to sail under the flag of the United States? Learn how best to handle a super frigate. Outrun those ships you can't out fight and be a nationally sanctioned commerce raider. Want to sail an SOL? Sail under the flag of Britain, Spain, or France and slug it out with the other SOL capable nations. That's all those things are good for after all.

I think there are plenty of other choices besides USS Pennsylvania. You have the USS Independence, USS Washington, USS Franklin, USS Columbus, USS Delaware, USS Ohio, and USS North Carolina. All rated between 74 and 90 guns. All carrying a variety of long and medium 32-pounders, 32-pounder carronades, and 42-pounders. If they are built anywhere close to as sturdy as the United States class frigates they'll be pretty stout. As far as first rates go, several were laid down but only the USS Pennsylvania was ever completed and she was obsolete by the time she sailed. She made only one short voyage and then sat in Norfolk for 23 years until burned to prevent the Confederacy from capturing her. If she'd been completed on time she'd have truly been a wonder and probably more than a match for any other 1st rate out there but even then she'd sit on the very edge of this game's time period. Its debatable as to which side of that edge she'd be on.