Brigantine

The brigantine carried a square-rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft rigged mainmast, giving it flexibility in varied winds and making it larger and better crewed than a sloop while still fast enough for chase and boarding. It bridged the gap between small raiders and full warships, useful for piracy and trade alike, and was a popular vessel for pirates to convert after capture.

Quick Facts

Ship ClassMerchant-Raider
Era Used17th-18th century
Typical Crew100-150
Guns / Cannons8-12 cannons
Speed / HandlingFast, versatile across varied winds
Notable UseUsed during parts of Bartholomew Roberts's career; common privateer conversion

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