 These had an armament that far exceeded the power of the American ships.Finally, and , 1,500-ton spar-decked frigates (with an enclosed waist, giving a continuous line of guns from bow to stern at the level of the quarter deck/forecastle), were built, which were an almost exact match in size and firepower to the American 44-gun frigates.Frigates were perhaps the hardest-worked of warship types during the Age of Sail.