Types of Pirate Ships

Different types of pirate ships: frigates, brigs, schooners, sloops, cutters, and luggers used by European pirates and privateers - galleys and xebecs of the Barbary pirates - and Chinese junks.

Here is a run-down of different types of pirate ships. Pirates had to choose their vessel carefully. They had to evade capture at all cost, since piracy on the high seas was punishable by death almost without exception.

The ship they choose had to be faster than the merchant ships they were planning on hijacking. So, there were many types of pirate ships - all with their unique advantage.

A model of Blackbeard's full-rigged pirate ship by Lindberg.

The naval vessels in the 16th century and up until the end of the 18th century that were tasked with convoy duty and protection of merchant ships were almost exclusively square rigged. They were typically either galleons early on, and later frigates and brigs.

To evade capture there were a few options:

• Most obvious – the chosen types of pirate ships ought to be faster than your pursuer. Pirates didn’t always get to choose their ships very carefully. Being outlaws, it was difficult or impossible to have a ship purpose-built by a shipyard. They mostly used converted merchant ships as the preferred types of pirate ships. At any time they had the option to “trade up” if hijacking a faster or otherwise better vessel.
• Sailing downwind, you would have a hard time outrunning a large naval frigate. Once he caught up, you’d probably be outgunned too.
• Operate in waters where patrolling was negligent while trade was abundant. The Caribbean and East Indian trade evolved as good hunting grounds for pirates.
• Being able to sail closer hauled to the wind than your pursuer would help you gain distance even if the pursuer were moving at a faster speed.
• Seeking shelter in waters shallower than the pursuer could safely approach.

Full rigged, later frigates

A full-rigged sailing ship after F.H. Chapman.

All frigates are full rigged ships and narrower with lower upper works than a ship-of-the-line of the same era. They have three masts (front to back: fore, main and mizzen masts), all with square sails and a gaff sail on the mizzen mast.

Full rigged ships had probably the best combination of cargo capacity, firepower, endurance, and speed. Weaknesses would include deep draft, requiring a large crew and poor sailer in head wind (against the wind). They typically mounted 22-44 guns, sometimes more, on one or two decks.

Many pirate ships you see in films are of this type, Jack Sparrow’s Black Pearl, formerly Wicked Wench, being a recent example.

Brig

A brig-rigged ship after F.H. Chapman.

A brig’s rig is very similar to the full rigged, except equipped with only two masts – fore and main. The brig was considered fast and nimble, but required a large crew for its size to handle the sails. They were generally smaller than full rigged vessels, so typically shallower draft and not as fast. Brigs were also poor sailers against the wind. They mounted 10-18 guns.

Captain Hook’s Jolly Roger is a good example from the movies. Interestingly, the kit by Revell of this vessel is a full rigged ship. Why they made this choice is a true mystery.

Schooner

A schooner-rigged ship after F.H. Chapman.

As explained earlier, the Achilles-heel of all square riggers is their poor performance when sailing against the wind. To evade a stronger opponent against the wind, the ship needs a fore-and-aft rig.

The term schooner today means the ship has gaff sails on all masts. Building schooners with more than two masts is a relatively recent idea. The pirates we associate with sailing ships would only have been exposed to schooners with two masts.

A schooner would be slower than a brig of similar construction down wind, but being faster across and being able to go higher against the wind. The rig also required only a small crew.

Sloop and Cutter

A sloop-rigged ship after F.H. Chapman.

Sloops and cutters have a single mast and the main sail was a gaff sail. It is difficult to find references explaining the difference between a sloop and a cutter. It appears the cutters tended to be wider and deeper for the same length. As a consequence, they can carry more sails and a taller rig in general.

It may be surprising, but sloops and cutters also required relatively large crews. Among the types of pirate ships, this can be considered “entry level”. They were fast, and like schooners, could sail high against the wind. Being smaller craft, draft was moderate. A Sloop or cutter could be armed with anywhere from four to 18 guns or carronades.

Luggers

Lugger rigged ship commonly used as privateer by the French.

The French favored luggers more than any nation. The lugger – or lougre in French – was common amongst French privateers in the English Channel during the 17th and 18th century. They carried a lot of sail for their size, were fast, and easy to handle for a modest crew. A lugger was armed similarly to a schooner or sloop.

Galleys

Galley pirate ship, as used by the Barbary corsairs.

Galleys were used by the Ottoman pirates and privateers off the Barbary Coast in the Mediterranean. The conditions in the Mediterranean are unusual. Sometimes there is no wind what so ever, so you have to resort to oars. The galley is propelled by oars, with lateen sails mainly as support. The oarsmen were slaves, chained to their seats.

A galley would do best by operating close to the coast and waiting for an opportunity with light winds. Ships considerably larger could be overtaken this way. Armament was typically a heavy gun (24 or 36 pounder) in the front center pointing straight forward and lighter guns (12 pounders) on either side.

Xebec pirate ship also used by the Barbary corsairs.

Xebecs

Xebecs were also favored by the Barbary Coast pirates. They differed from the galleys in being primarily sailing vessels that could be rowed in a pinch by its crew. With lateen rigs, they were fast and nimble, similar in handling to a lugger or schooner.

Chinese Junks

Chinese Junk as used by Chinese pirates in East Asia.

When we talk about pirates its easy to forget the Chinese pirates praying on the flourishing tea, spice and silk trade that took place in East Asia.

No surprise maybe, but the most common types of pirate ships were the local junk – a type of sailing ship most commonly associated with China. They could have anywhere from one to three masts.

The rig has a lot in common with the lugger, but predates it. Their sails were made with bamboo battens going all the way across giving them an easily recognizable profile.

Chinese junks were fast, nimble and seaworthy. The simple rig made for a modest crew.

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