A barque (or bark) is a sailing vessel with three or more masts, square-rigged on all but the aftmost, which is fore-and-aft rigged. The design’s balance of cargo capacity and manageable crew size made barques common merchant prizes that were converted for raiding by pirates and privateers.
Quick Facts
| Ship Class | Merchant/Warship |
|---|---|
| Era Used | 17th-19th century |
| Typical Crew | 20-100+ |
| Guns / Cannons | variable |
| Speed / Handling | Moderate |
| Notable Use | General-purpose rig adopted by various privateers and pirate-converted merchantmen |
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