18th-19th century
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Garay
The garay was a Southeast Asian raiding vessel used by the Samal Balangingi and related groups, smaller, faster, and more maneuverable than the larger Iranun lanong, and lacking the outriggers that characterized true prahu designs despite sometimes being mislabeled as such in historical records.
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Lanong
The lanong was a large outrigger war galley of the Iranun people of the southern Philippines, up to 30 meters long, with biped masts that doubled as boarding ladders and one to three banks of oars often rowed by captives. Lanong fleets carried out extensive slave-raiding across the Malay Archipelago into the 19th century.
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War Junk
War junks were junks specifically armed and crewed for combat, carrying from six to over a dozen cannon depending on size, and formed the majority of vessels in the powerful South China Sea pirate confederations of the early 19th century, including that of Zheng Yi Sao.
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Corvette
The corvette was a small, fast warship carrying fewer guns than a frigate, used by navies for patrol, escort, and anti-piracy duty in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its speed and shallow draft made it well suited to pursuing pirate vessels into coastal waters.
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Schooner
The fore-and-aft rigged schooner, requiring a smaller crew than square-riggers, offered excellent speed and the ability to sail close to the wind, making it ideal for both piracy and privateering chases. Schooners became especially associated with American privateers of the 18th and early 19th centuries.
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Brig
A brig was a two-masted vessel square-rigged on both masts, giving strong speed and power at the cost of needing more hands than a fore-and-aft rigged brigantine. Brigs served both privateers seeking prize-taking speed and the naval forces that hunted pirates, remaining common into the 19th century.