80 Gun steam ship vs 122 gun first rate

I've been practicing this matchup for the last day or so as the steamship, and while I can beat him, I can't seem to actually get behind an AI-controlled first rate to save my life. I know I've done it once but I can't remember how. Are there any videos/tips anywhere to this effect?

I don't think it's really possible, given how vastly exaggerated all the ships' turn rates are. They will always be able to keep their guns trained on you. Your only chance to get a ship in position behind the enemy 1st rate is to engage it with 2 of your ships at once.

could always try and fire at the sail`s, Once demasted you will have the advantage.

I have taken out a 38 gun frigate with a single brig, i have taken out an 80 gun ship with a single broadside fire of a 50 gun ship; exploded instantly. The number of guns it's irrelevant.

@KZGB In order to do that one must position it's ship to fire the stern or bow of the enemy ship, to at least cut some of the sails if dismating don't happen soon. Broadside chain-shot fire generally pointless.

I don't think dismasting a ship will do anything at all to its ability to turn on the spot .. it will drastically reduce its speed, but that's not the point. If the AI wants to keep pointing its guns at you, there's nothing you can do about it, since it will always be able to rotate its ships faster than you can run circles around it.

Originally Posted by antred

I don't think dismasting a ship will do anything at all to its ability to turn on the spot .. it will drastically reduce its speed, but that's not the point.

My experience (in the unmodded game) is that if you fully dismast a ship then it ends up dead in the water. Since the AI likes to spam carronade frigates, I use my brigs and 32-gun frigates to shoot away their masts to disable them. Once they're unmoving, I park my own ship at short range across the bows or stern, firing grapeshot until they surrender. That way I capture the ship with little damage to either vessel.

Oh ok then. It's pretty rare that I get to completely dismast a ship, so I'll just take your word on that. But anyway, it may be relatively easy to routinely dismast carronade frigs, seeing how their short weapons range means they'll be hard-pressed to respond at all if you maneuver smartly and keep a healthy distance, but against a 122-gun ship of the line it would be considerably more difficult. In the time it would take you to destroy its rigging, it'll probably put at least 3 broadsides into your steam ship, and even a steam ship can't just shrug off that kind of punishment.