Need help with ships

[garrowolf]

I am working on the different tech levels for my system. Currently I am trying to figure out the ships of specific tech levels. My research has given me this so far but I am having a hard time finding out the right information for the last tech level (the computer I am using has sort of a net nanny that is limiting me).

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TL6: Age of Crisis (1300 – 1453)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] Cannons, swords, and armor coexisted during this time period.[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Galley, Large Cog, Small Cog, Holk, Rowboat[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TL 7: Age of Discovery (1453-1650)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] With the fall of Constantinople, there was a search for an alternate trade route with China. This led to the discovery of several lands new to Europe, including the New World. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Galley, Large Cog, Small Cog, Caravel, Holk, Rowboat[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TL 8: Age of Enlightenment (1650-1750)[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th rates, Galleons, East Indiamen, Caravel, Flute, Frigate, Holk, Pinnace, Rowboat[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TL 9: Age of Revolution (1750-1870) [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] Heavier materials from the gunpowder age are finally capable of the higher grades necessary to build complex machinery. This allows steam tech to work. This includes the American Revolution, Civil War, and the Old West.

Any suggestions?
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[Celebrim]

As an overview, you should read something like Time Life's Seafarers series, likely available from your local public library.

What you are calling TL9 includes late Ships of the Line with rounded fore and aft reducing damage from a capped T, late model Frigates (what would later be called Cruisers) patterned after the USS Constitution, paddlewheel steamers and frigates, early screw and sail frigates and ships of the line, introduction of explosive shells, and early Ironclads. The carronade and the mortar bombardment ship become important. Cannon continue to decrease in number and increase in size. Relative peace between 1814 and 1860 means many of these weapons are relatively untested. On the civilian front, you see the rise of Clippers and Packets, which are long relatively thin schooner rigged vessels reinforced with steel (later with iron hulls) and mounting up to six masts.

It's worth nothing that sailing vessels from your earlier periods are also much more diverse in size and rigging than your short lists would suggest. In particularly you've made no mention of the Galleass in TL6 or the Brigantine in TL8, both of which are extremely important vessel types.