The Constitution class of frigates were the most formidable ships of their class in the world at that time. The American Navy, being a much smaller fleet than the British, felt they had to build individually superior ships to have a fighting chance, and they did so to great effect. The Germans and Japanese later went by the same theory, building various ships that were remarkably well armoured and (in the case of the Japanese) heavily armed as compared to their Allied countrerparts in the American and British navies.

Japanese heavy cruisers of the 2nd World War, for example, were extremely formidable vessels, and packed a deadly punch with their "long lance" torpedoes and their heavy gun armament.