nelson himself later estimated that the combined french force mustered 170 guns and 1,600 sailors and could easily have overwhelmed his disabled ship had they counterattacked. he wrote that "had they [the french frigates] been english, a 64 could never have got [away] from them." the engagement has been cited as typifying naval tactics of the period; the royal navy, as the more aggressive service, preferred the weather gage, from which they could bear down on an enemy ship in a frontal attack. the french, trained in defensive tactics, took the leeward position that allowed them the opportunity of escape and the ability to target the attacker as they closed. the french tactics allowed them to direct their fire against the attackers masts, sails and rigging from long range, as with the "agamemnon", disabling the enemy and preventing them from pressing their attack. the british preferred point-blank range, around , and targeted the hull and crew of the enemy ship, seeking to batter it into surrender.