The cog was the dominant cargo and warship of the medieval Hanseatic League, a single-masted, flat-bottomed vessel with high sides. Baltic pirate confederations such as the Victual Brothers, led by figures like Klaus Störtebeker, used captured or built cogs to raid Hanseatic shipping in the 14th century.
Quick Facts
| Ship Class | Merchant/Raider |
|---|---|
| Era Used | 12th-15th century (Baltic/North Sea) |
| Typical Crew | 10-20 |
| Guns / Cannons | none (pre-cannon era) |
| Speed / Handling | Slow, sturdy, high freeboard |
| Notable Use | Used by the Vitalienbrüder (Victual Brothers) pirate confederation, including Klaus Störtebeker |
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