Ships that pass in the night

[Ironside]

In the High.txt file:

Rebels can be gifted ships at the start. I think the reason rebel ships aren't usually seen is that rebel provinces rarely are built up to the level necessary to produce them. And as we all know, the port is usually the first thing destroyed on invasions.

Possibly more to do with that the rebels are usually horribly broke. I haven't seen it in MTW but afaik it's the same rebel funtion as in STW and there I've seen massive rebel buildup and massive troop production once, after some "accidental" faction deaths.