Pirate Warfare

Thievery and murder, violence and mayhem, these have been a part of the trade of the pirate trade throughout history.

Pirates sailed alone, scanning the high seas for suitable prey to engage. They hunted along major shipping lanes, the waters of the Bahamas, the Windward Channel (between Cuba and Hispaniola), the West African coast, the waters near Madagascar, and the American colonies.

In good conditions, pirates could see another ship 20 miles away. If they saw a warship, they stayed away. With other ships, before engaging they estimated things such as the ship's speed, its maneuverability, and the reputation of its captain. Like wolves, they chose the weakest prey.

The battle began with the pirates' approach. They would close and demand surrender by firing a gun. Merchants that surrendered might be spared, but any ship that resisted could expect wholesale slaughter if it was defeated.

If the merchant chose to fight the pirates, battle would commence with guns and cannons (often loaded with grapeshot to disable the crew without sinking the ship). The pirates had to think not only about defeating their enemies, but doing so in a manner that would result in the least amount of damage possible to the ship they wished to capture.

When the ships came alongside each other, the pirates might throw grappling hooks to draw the enemy ship close. The pirates would then swing over and engage in hand-to-hand combat. They favored weapons such as muskets, blunderbusses, and pistols. Since those were one-shot affairs back then, the pirates also carried swords and cutlasses, sometimes pikes and axes, and even grenades.

Piracy continues to be a problem even in modern times. Though the weapons have grown more sophisticated, the goal is the same.

Read our review of Pirates on the High Seas

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