| Category | Sailing Ships |
| Class | ship of the line |
| Builder | varies |
| Commissioned | varies |
| Owner | any |
Frigates are a class of ships designated as light vessels with one row of gun ports on each side. As 4th Rate Ships of the Line, they carry out a multitude of tasks like reconnoitering ahead of the main fleet, delivering dispatches to and from fleet leadership, convoy duty, and privateering.