Much
like the naval, square rigged brigantine, the Naval Snow was
distinguished by her for and aft trysail. This was a prefered ship for the
Royal Navy in that, for a 90 ton, 60 foot ship, it could manage well in
a light quartering wind. The crew of up to 80 had at its disposal 8 six
pound guns that rested behind the canvas strung amidships over the open
bulwarks. This was a common patrol ship when the navy finally set to deter
pirates from their self determined duty.
The
Naval Sloop was basically a Sloop with more guns and slightly
larger. The Naval Sloop was a pirate hunting ship, with a crew of 70 to
man this 113 ton, 65 foot fighting ship. The ship is "sharp-ended"
to allow for faster attack and is fit with 7 pairs of oars (put through
the gunports) to allow for chase without wind. A well trained crew could
fire the 12 nine pound cannons about twice every three minutes.
The
Frigate was the "Man-O-War" of the time weighing in at
360 tons and measuring 110 feet. This ship carried 195 men for a crew to
man the three masts of sails and the 26 guns. The frigate was placed at
the head of most major sea shipments or convoys. The sight of this heavily
armed vessel often sent pirates away without a trace of their handywork.
Merchant
Ships: In the late 17th and early 18th centuries commercial ships
were generally called "merchant ships", however mariners reserved
such a term for the three masted, square rigged carrier. These ships were
large and intended for passengers and cargo. The carrier was a 280 ton ship
measuring 80 feet in length. While such a ship could be armed with up to
16 cannons, it is doubtful that a typical crew of about 20 could manage
more than three or four such guns. This ship sports finer lines and a little
more sail power than the Dutch Flute (below) and could make a trip from
England to America in about 4 weeks.
The
Dutch Flute was a prize in the early 17th Century. Primarily
a prize for the shipping world, the Flute was an impressive 300 ton, 80
foot ship that proved inexpensive to build as well as man. The Flute needed
only a dozen seamen. With a flat bottom, broad beams, and a round stern,
this ship soon became the favoured model of a cargo ship. A large part of
the popularity of the Flute for commerce was her incredible cargo capacity;
about 150% that of similar ships. In this, they soon became a common prey
for savvy pirates.
The
Brigantine was more a captain's ship for a pyrate. This
150 ton, 80 foot vessel could carry 100 pyrates mounting 10 cannons. The
unique two mast ship could be rigged with many combinations of square or
fore and aft sails which made her more versatile than many other ships.
This was the clear choice for battle or combat rather than quick, hit and
run type piracy
Perhaps
the best known ship, the Schooner is a little of all of
the best features in a pyrate ship. Unique to the Schooner is a very narrow
hull and shallow draft. The pirates of the North American coast and Caribbean
were partial to the Schooner because, for a 100 ton ship loaded with 8 cannons,
75 pyrates, and 4 swivel guns, it was still small enough to navigate the
shoal waters and to hide in remote coves. The Schooner could also reach
11 knots in a good wind. In short, it was a small, quick, and sturdy work-horse
for gentlemen of fortune.
Thanks to the very
interesting site
Pyrates for the informations about the ships. You can find there other
informations about the arms used in those times , the life of pirates and
so on.
O'Brien was presumably thinking of the 6th Rate 24 gun SURPRISE,
which started life as the French L'UNITE, captured in 1796 by HMS INCONSTANT.
Her plans survive in the National Maritime Museum. She was 126 feet long on
the gundeck, 31 ft 8 in. beam. 579 tons, and registered as a 28-gun ship although
she actually carried twenty-four 32-pounder carronades on her main deck, and
eight 32-pounder carronades on her quarterdeck and forecastle, with two or
four long 6-pounders for chasers, making 36 guns.
