The Steam warship classification system used during the 19th century was a classification scheme for the comparison of steam warships, including steam frigates and steam sloops. The system originally classified steam warships according to the thrown weight of their broadsides, then rated them by tonnage, using separate standards for ironclad and non-ironclad ships, with allowances for sailing ships still in commission. It was used in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, officially and unofficially. The United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 adopted the system by 1875.

First system (Civil War-at least 1870)

(Weights given are representative)

Type	Shot weight (lbs)
First Rate	2,606
Second Rate	1,220
Third Rate	434
Fourth Rate	210 / 294

Second system (by 1875)

Type	Tonnage (non-ironclad)	Tonnage (ironclad)
First Rate (also sailing ships-of-the-line)	4000 +	8000 +
Second Rate (also sailing frigates)	2000 - 4000	2000 - 8000
Third Rate (also sailing sloops of war)	900 - 2000	1200 - 2000
Fourth Rate (also dispatch vessels and store ships)	0 - 800	0 - 800

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