[kayodelycaon]

The USS Constitution and her sister ships were “super frigates” armed with ~50 guns of 24lb cannons and 36lb carronades. Most British frigates they went up against had fewer guns and used 18 lb cannons. The USS Constitution also had thicker hulls.

The British had to start using cut down ships of the line against them.

In WW2 terms, they were battle cruisers taking on heavy and light cruisers.

The battle cruiser example is especially apt because a 24lb cannon could pierce any ship of the line’s hull.