Ships
Common Pirate Ships
Sloops - The favorite little wonder boat of Caribbean and Atlantic pirates in the late 1600's was first produced in large numbers by master builders in Jamaica, and her single-mast configuration was later changed by Bermudans in the 1700's. Although usually rigged for a larger fore-and-aft mainsail, it could easily be altered for various sail combinations. The huge bowsprit also added more canvas area for more maneuverability.
Thirty to sixty feet long with a top speed of over 10 knots, a crew of 20 to 70 men could easily work this father of the modern sailing yacht for lightning-swift attacks, avoiding broadsides, and outrunning pursuit. In spite of weighing as much as 100 tons and having perhaps 15 cannons, its draft was amazingly shallow at eight feet. This allowed it to find safety in shallower waters far beyond any warship's range. A shallow draft was also was the reason that those entrusted to pursue pirate ships often favored the sloop to get access to their hiding spots.
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Schooners- The two-masted schooner was another favorite of the Caribbean and Atlantic pirates. With many of the same features of the sloop such as terrific speed, maneuverability, and gun capacity, this swift American variant was first built in the 1700's with a narrower hull and a shallower draft of only 5 feet. This meant it could easily take a large haul and 75-man crew further inland to hide or to divide the booty, but a smaller hold stored fewer spoils.
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Brigantines- This shallow-draft, two-mast brigand's ship gave terrific maneuverability and speed from its various square and fore/aft-rigged sail variations. It was prized in the Mediterranean, where its earlier versions sometimes included oars that were better for diminished winds. Heavier, longer, and roomier than the smaller sloops and schooners, it was usually first choice for prolonged battles instead of quick hits. Adequate firepower and a larger hold meant the versatile pirate ship also saw widespread use as a trade ship. 70-80 foot length, 125-150 tons, 100+ men, 12 guns...
Square-Rigged Ships
Faster - The Merchant Carrier was a 275-ton, 80-foot- long variety with a more streamlined hull. It gained a reputation for rapidly ferrting passengers as well as cargo across the Atlantic in a month or less. The weak point was that such a large ship could usually have a small crew of 20 or less, and they could rarely fire more than a few of its possible 16 guns.
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Fatter - The Dutch Fleut was so well-designed that it became the prototype for cargo carriers. This was a broad, flat-bottomed, and strong ship with a weight of 300 tons spread over only 80 feet. It could also carry 50 percent more cargo than other designs. Merchants on the tightest budget loved that the Fleut was inexpensive to build and to man, as only twelve men could make a crew. With the same weak defense as the carrier, there was no way for the crew to sail and fire very many of its twelve cannons.
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Monster - An East Indiaman was by far the largest and best for long voyages. This titan was twice as large as a Fleut and weighed in at 700 tons! A pirate would spy this pregnant guppy on the horizon and get doubloon $igns in his eyes. The maximum pirate crew of 300 was probably possible only after successful runs in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, and the top gun capacity of 54 was often reduced to make room for more loot.
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Galleons- These famous Spanish-designed trade and treasure ships rejected the light defense notion of other merchant vessels and were truly a force to be reckoned with. No amount of cannons, however, would deter the pirates attracted to the vast wealth they carried. With a crew over 200 on two or three decks of over 70 cannon, numerous swivel guns, and even archers' platforms on the masts, this virtual fort on water would use resistance only as a last but terrifying resort - broadsides were deadly. The pirates were not swayed, because the top speed of perhaps eight knots could not overcome the irksome design features which made it difficult or impossible to maneuver well in less than glassy seas. With huge square sails that prevented sailing into the wind, the hull narrow at the top and broad at bottom, and a tiny keel, it responded more like a washtub than a warship, and someone was always waiting to drain it dry.
Other Pirate Ships
Galleys- The Barbary corsairs in the Mediterranean used a variant of this ancient, long and lean vessel during the 1500's and after. The sails provided only secondary power, because the main propulsion was by up to 30 large oars rowed by several men apiece below the deck. One or more masts would attempt to take advantage of the occasional wind with lateen sails. Captains of the corsair galley first employed manpower to approach the prey, then if necessary, several cannon in the bow to assault, and finally on the large number of 100 or more marines or pirates to overcome the enemy.
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Junks- There really was no other real ship in the Far East but a junk for many centuries. Although the flat-bottom design was unimposing, it was highly adaptable to merchant, military, and pirate demands alike.
Among its distinct features were its very high stern, flat bow, wide breadth, and adjustable rudder height. Chinese Junks could range in size from 45 to 100 feet and have two to four main masts, as well as several heavy guns.
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Here. Or, go and find a ship of your own. Being creative is the best tool a Roleplayer can have
biggrin ((Oh, and I'm working on getting picture links for all of those ship types. It may take a while, but there will be blue clickies for people to enjoy :3))
