With my very very limited grasp of naval warfare in this period, it is my current understanding that maintaining large fleets in this period was extraordinarily expensive.

It seems to me that a fleet of 20 Ships-of-the-Line engaging another 20 ships of similar size would be an infrequent occurence.

Do I have this correct or can someone please better relate the relative frequency of large-scale decisive naval engagements in the 16th-19th centuries.

My thanks.

The Div