Small, fast and ready for combat. The criminals of the so-called Golden Age of Piracy (between 1713 and 1730) preferred small ships, because they were easier to maneuver, which was useful in invasions and escapes. Another advantage is that they were able to navigate (and escape) through shallow waters such as the Bahamas, something larger ships could not. In general, they used sloops, light boats with only one mast designed to take maximum advantage of the wind – brigantines were also used, which were heavier, but had more cannons.
Large vessels were very rare and, in general, adapted from slave ships. They were known for their speed, which made them useful to pirates. The huge Queen Anne’s Revenge was one of these – before being taken over by the pirate Blackbeard, it was the slave ship La Concorde. The famous pirate used it for just under a year, until he decided to sink it in June 1718 because it was too big and difficult to hide.
Destroyer of the Seven Seas
Queen Anne’s Revenge chilled during the Golden Age of Piracy
DATASHEET
WEIGHT – 200 tons
LENGTH – 33 m
WIDTH – 7.3 m
WEAPONS – 40 cannons
CREW – About 125 men, but could support up to 300
MIZZEN MAST
On three-masted ships, “mizzen” is the name of what is at the back.
BLACK BEARD CABIN
Only the captain had his own quarters. Being at the rear, it was easier to fend off a mutiny.
CANNON
Originally, there were only 20 cannons, but Blackbeard installed even more. There were guns of 8, 6, 4 pdr (acronym for “pounder”). The higher the pdr, the larger the size of the projectiles fired.
CAPSTAN
It was rotated by several sailors together to tension and control cables and ropes (including anchor).
ROTATING AXIS CANNON
With lesser firepower than other cannons, it had the advantage of being able to be turned up and down to fire in long arcs. It was widely used as a flare and, in battle, to fire at humans.
BALLAST
Extra weight that stabilized the ship. Made up of surplus provisions, barrels of water, and rocks.
Figurehead
Between the 16th and 20th centuries, a carved wooden ornament was common here. The Queen Anne’s was lost in a storm before Blackbeard took over the ship.
ANCHOR
There were three, one on each side and one stored in the basement. Each weighed about 1,360 kg.
bowsprit
It serves so that the mainmast sail can be extended for a greater distance, increasing the use of wind power.
CHALOUPA
Light craft was the most used
just a mast
vertical sail
Between 11 m and 24 m in length
Weighed less than 100 tons
10 cannons
Crew of 50 to 70 men
See too:
+ The 7 most terrible pirates of the seas
+ Are there still pirates nowadays?