Pirate Ships

You can’t think about pirates without thinking about the Pirate Ship.  The ships the pirates used were just about the most important asset a pirate could have.  Without a ship, they wouldn’t be very good pirates.  When it came to vessels, the most powerful frigate wasn’t necessarily the best idea.  The pirates relied on speed as well as firepower.  To have a ship that could gain the advantage with speed was just as important as it’s firepower.  A large navy frigate held many men and many cannons.  This also made for a slower ship, and one that was lower in the water and couldn’t maneuver in the shallow waters.  A Pirate with a well-armed sloop could take on the largest of the merchant frigates. 

The pirates had to perform many tasks. It was a home to the crew.  Provided sleeping quarters.  Held a few months worth of supplies and provisions.  As well as holding all the plunder the crew could grab.  A pirate crew tended to be larger then the merchant crews they were up against.  When it came to manpower, and boarding other ships, the larger pirate crew would ensure capturing the vessel.  The pirate ship was the primary weapon of attacking other ships.  Most ships were modified from their original configuration to hold more guns, add extra masts or lighten the ship in any way. 

Most ships the pirates used were stolen during an attack, or simply when the crew mutinied on a merchant or naval vessel.  When a ship was acquired during an attack extensive repairs were needed to be made.  Often times a pirate captain would hold onto a ship long enough for it to gain him another one.  Some pirates kept one ship through out their pirate career.  Most, however took the next best ship available.  When a privateers contract expired, the often times took to piracy in the same vessel granted to them in their privateering career. 

A privateers vessel was build for the same purpose and to the same configuration as a pirate vessel.  The difference being, it was build by a legitimate shipyard.  During wars the opposing countries would often times employ privateers to attack the enemy’s merchant and shipping fleets to disrupt trade and armament.  Their ships that were provided them were fast and well armed.  Once peace was declared the privateer was expected to put to shore and cease the attack of merchant vessels.  Often times, the crew would instead resort to piracy.  They had the ship and the experience!  Some times, however, the privateer would use their experience and fast ships to become pirate hunters. 

When a ship was converted many parts of the ship that were deemed unnecessary were simply removed.  By removing internal portions from below decks they would open the space for maneuvering the guns.  They could also make the ship “Flush” which involved tearing out the forecastle and lowering the quarter deck so that the upper deck was flat from bow to stern.  This made for an ideal, flat, unobstructed fighting platform.  Also many additional guns would be added, but not before the hull would be strengthened to be able to take on the additional stress from the guns firing. 

Let’s take a look at the different classes of ships.

Sloops 

The term sloop is a description of many different types of vessels.  It makes up the largest group of ship in the Caribbean.  A sloop is used to describe a small, single masted ship that held more sail then the proportion of their size.  They were very fast, very maneuverable ships and often times could run in shallow waters. 
The typical sloop could carry up to 75 men and 14 guns and could be up to 100 tons.  Their speed and agility made them ideal pirate vessels. 

Schooners 

The schooner is the American variation of the sloop.  It was a common vessel in the 18^th century.  A schooner is a two masted ship that carried for and aft sails on both masts.  They were distinguished by a narrow hull and a large spread of sail.  The were fast ships easily able of exceeding 11 knots.  They also sat light in the water allowing them to travel in shallow waters.  A typical schooner could weigh up to 100 tons, hold 75 men and carry 8 guns.  Their main limitation was their inability to hold provisions for long voyages. 

Barques (Barks) 

A barque is a small ship with three masts.  The first two masts were square-rigged and the aftermast being fore-and-aft rigged.  The three masts made the barque a fast ship and was regarded as a favorite among Caribbean pirates.  They could hold 90 men and about 12 guns.

Brigantines 

A brigantine has a foremast that runs square-rigged sails.  It’s mainmast has a fore-aft with square-rigged topsails.  It allows the vessel to be able to utilize many different wind conditions.  The ship was found mostly in American waters.  It was up to 80 feet long, weighed 150 tons.  They carried 100 men and held 12 guns. 

A similar ship to the brigantine was called the brig.  It wasn’t quite so common in American waters.  It has two fully square-rigged masts.  Another ship similar to the brigantine was called the snow.  The Royal Navy used snows to patrol for pirates.

Three-Masted vessels (Square-Riggers)

These are what we all imagine Pirate Ships to look like.  Three masted vessels with full, square sails.  They were often called merchant ships.  They were slower than the smaller ships, but had their own advantages.  For instance, they proved more sea worthy, help up better in storms, could carry more crew and storage and provided better gun platforms.  A few pirates did prefer the larger three masted vessels.

Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s revenge was a three masted ship used in the slave trade.  It was known to hold 40 guns. Most ships of the size would only hold 16. 

Warships 

A 6^th rate three masted warship would carry 12 to 24 guns. A 5^th rate would carry up to 40 guns.  They were large ships and proved to be a good match for most pirate vessels at close range.  These ships also carried a crew with an unmatched discipline allowing them to fire two or three shots per the pirate crews one. 

Frigates 

Frigates were the largest class of warship.  Often called the Ship of the Line.  They have three fully rigged masts.  They also had a raised quarter deck and forecastle.  They would carry 24 to 38 guns on one deck.   They were faster than the battleships and were used as lookouts and signal ships.  They also would commonly escort merchant ships and be used as pirate hunting vessels.  Every once in awhile a pirate brave enough would capture a naval frigate.  Bartholomew Robert’s Royal Fortune was a captured Naval Frigate.

Here is a diagram of a typical Pirate Ship

 

Pirate of the Month

The Pirate of the Month is Sir Henry Morgan

Sir Henry Morgan wasn't an Actual Pirate at all.  He was a Welsh privateer, who made a name in the Caribbean as a leader of buccaneers. He was among England's most notorious and successful privateers.