Naval Strategy of Ship Deployment

I was wondering what the percentage of ships of the line (or other structures for other nations) who sailed solo was. Would most patrols be in small groups, or with ships by their lonesome during the 18th century? What was the reliance on ships outside of the line? Popular culture is quite familiar with convoys and the grandiose battles that they would get themselves into, but rerveals very little about the bulk of naval occupation during the period.

Any illumination is appreciated on this issue, I didn't know how to google this question effectively. Most of my historical knowledge of this period comes from movies, video game and Wikipedia to be honest.

As I understand it, unless there were planned fleet actions (knowing an enemy fleet is switching ports) ships usually went on solo missions. If you look up Cochrane then you'll find the epitome of a captain of the 18/19th century.

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Originally Posted by Marshal Murat

As I understand it, unless there were planned fleet actions (knowing an enemy fleet is switching ports) ships usually went on solo missions. If you look up Cochrane then you'll find the epitome of a captain of the 18/19th century.

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That's was my assumption. I just didn't know how to look up the answer.

In the french navy, ships-of-the line seldom saw action apart of large fleet sorties. Most of the experienced sailors were commited to frigates that made the most of solo missions.

Spanish trade fleets, such as the Manilla galleon, usually went as a convoy due to the risks of attack or piracy. That's 17th and early 18th C though. Trade was easier to regulate for the spanish crown in this way. It didn't stop smugglers or less than legal traders trading outside of the sanctioned convoy "window" mind you.

War-time or peace-time? When in the period? Which theater? AFAIK there was a lot of different approaches, and I think we need to narrow it down a little?

:bow:

/KotR

Generally speaking, individual SOLs might be sent on detached duty as flagships for small squadrons on foriegn stations, such as during the Mauritus Campagin. Usually these were older vessels of 50 to 60 guns no longer suitable to stay in the line of battle. There were some occasions when a fast SOL might be detached from a blockade to make an inshore sweep, but this was usually considered work for frigates. I'll try to dig up further examples when I get time.