I am working on the entire background story, it should be coming soon, but as it covers an era of hundreds of years, it is quite a lot to do.
Attachment:
ADU brittania.png
for now I will only post these ships
first of all, the brittania. launched in 1850, this ship was the first of an series of ships, of which the last one was 30 meters longer and had no sails anymore. this ship was not that succesfull though. it was intended as an escort vessel which could take out enemy's even when there was no wind. it never could do that job though, because she was slow on sails and on steam...... well she was even slower, due to the lack of powerfull engines. after this was discovered, this ship was used as an research ship for different engine and sail configurations, and as an expedition ship.
the entire class was taken out of service in 1858, and they were replaced by small escort craft, some not even steam powered.
(note: this ship was used in battle once more in 1867, because of her magical name, as the new independent british nation called herself Brittania.)
Attachment:
ADU haarlem class.png
second, the Haarlem class ships.
these ships were meant for escort, anti piracy and showing the flag everywhere on the world. they were fast and agile, but weaponed rather light for the size of the ship. these ships (build from 1820 to 1846) have simularities with the early clipper ships, and some were still in use when the new ship register was started in 1896, now as yachts, transports and smugglers.