The prahu, or proa, is a family of Southeast Asian sailing vessels often fitted with an outrigger for stability, used across the Malay Archipelago for trade, transport, and raiding. Various prahu designs were adopted by Malay pirate groups for fast coastal and open-water attacks armed with small swivel guns called lantaka.
Quick Facts
| Ship Class | Small/Fast, Outrigger Raider |
|---|---|
| Era Used | various, Southeast Asia |
| Typical Crew | 10-30 |
| Guns / Cannons | swivel guns (lantaka) common |
| Speed / Handling | Very fast, outrigger-stabilized |
| Notable Use | Widely used by Malay and Iranun raiders across the Malay Archipelago |
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