France can dominate the oceans if you really tried, why not? We've seen screen shots of the US having ships of the line If that's possible then anything is.
Agreed, why do I get the feeling small frigates will be the US version of milanese crossbowmen.....ugh, watch as Boston becomes the new Bern.

(Reference to MTW2 the city of Bern which Milan usually takes and overstocks with crossbowmen.*