Pirate Ships and Pirate Flags

Image: Caribbean Pirate Sailing Boat

Pirate Ship

The ship sails billowing in the distance spread panic across the seas. The skull-and-crossbones flags were enough to strike terror in the bravest of hearts. As the ships drew nearer, so did images of flashing swords, plunder and bloodshed.

The ships that pirates used were stolen or obtained in a mutiny. Some were even acquired from privateers as these ships were fast and specially designed for the purpose of pursuit. A pirate could command several ships, the most famous multi-ship pirate being Bartho-lomew Roberts, who owned six ships through his colorful career.

A pirate ship was an interesting place to be in. It was a place where they lived, and it was always battle-ready! Though the crew lived together, there were special cabins for the captain and the quartermaster. The ship also had a storeroom where the booty was kept.

It carried plenty of weapons and it was oh, so fast! Though some pirates used large ships, many preferred the faster sloops, brigantines and schooners.Schooners were two-masted ships with narrow hulls and large spread of sail that made them fast, sometimes going over 11 knots.

The brigantine had a foremast, usually with square-rigged sails. The main masts with a fore-and-aft and square-rigged topsail could move in any wind condition. It was about 80 feet long, 150 tons and could carry up to 100 men and 12 guns. The sloops were small, single-masted craft with an enormous sail spread which made them fast and agile. In the Caribbean, sloops were popular for their speed and ability to enter shallow waters, where larger battleships could not chase them.

These vessels were also easy to remove barnacles from and were easy to keep in fighting fit shape. Warships, battleships and frigates became popular because of their weapon-carrying ability.

Pirate Flags

When a pirate’s flag was seen, it struck fear into the hearts of prospective victims. Many gave up as soon as they saw the flag. The early pirates flew a red flag, presumably as a warning not to oppose or fight back. This was known as the Bloody Flag and it was flown along with the national flag of their country. Pirates raised the black flag if the vessel under attack showed resistance and it sent out a clear warning that “no quarter would be given”.

Pirates used symbols as part of their strategy to instill fear. Skeletons, flaming swords, and hourglasses were among their favorite symbols. The most popular was the “Jolly Roger”, a white skull-and-crossbones on a black background. This was probably derived from the French flag known as “Jolie Rouge” or “rouge laws” in England which were meant for dealing with thieves and vagabonds.

The word Roger could have originated from this. Or, the name could have even come from the very macho concept of the raging bull as Roger was a name commonly given by the English to their stud bull. The skull-and-crossbones symbol was the symbol of death. Associated symbols like the raised glass could have meant that the pirate was toasting death, while dancing skeletons meant flirting with death. Sometimes, two or three symbols were used together.

The much-feared Blackbeard flag had a horned skeleton holding an hourglass and a spear next to a bleeding heart. Along with the skull-and-crossbones flag, Bartholomew Roberts had a complex flag showing a pirate holding an hourglass alongside a skeleton clutching a spear. These symbols could have reflected the feelings of the pirates as well as the fear they wished to evoke.

Today the Jolly Roger has become a symbol of adventure and possibly the most recognizable symbol of piracy. But behind the mask of adventure on the high seas, lies many a tale of horror and bloodshed! Ships were altered to make space for guns, and the expression “making her flush,” meant removing and adjusting the ship to make room for fighting. Extra guns were fitted by piercing the hull, while timber made the ship stronger to handle the extra weaponry. Swivel guns were mounted on gunwales for easy operation.

Modern pirate ships are swifter and outfitted with high-tech equipment. It is suspected that they use satellites to spy on cargo ships and tankers. They have modern artillery, and accessories like scooters and smaller vessels that allow them to attack and get back to the main ship. They are quieter and do not announce their coming, much unlike a 17th century ship that proudly set up sail that made ships surrender out of fear!


	Home Pirates and Piracy Introduction to Pirates and Piracy Pirates The Buccaneers - Pirates of the Caribbean Islands associated with pirate treasure Pirate Ships and Pirate Flags The Brotherhood of the Coast The lost loot isn't buried on Cocos Island Millions of pirate treasure around Cuba and Porto Rico Pirate Ships and Pirate Flags Image: Caribbean Pirate Sailing Boat Pirate Ship The ship sails billowing in the distance spread panic across the seas. The skull-and-crossbones flags were enough to strike terror in the bravest of hearts. As the ships drew nearer, so did images of flashing swords, plunder and bloodshed. The ships that pirates used were stolen or obtained in a mutiny. Some were even acquired from privateers as these ships were fast and specially designed for the purpose of pursuit. A pirate could command several ships, the most famous multi-ship pirate being Bartho-lomew Roberts, who owned six ships through his colorful career. A pirate ship was an interesting place to be in. It was a place where they lived, and it was always battle-ready! Though the crew lived together, there were special cabins for the captain and the quartermaster. The ship also had a storeroom where the booty was kept. It carried plenty of weapons and it was oh, so fast! Though some pirates used large ships, many preferred the faster sloops, brigantines and schooners.Schooners were two-masted ships with narrow hulls and large spread of sail that made them fast, sometimes going over 11 knots. The brigantine had a foremast, usually with square-rigged sails. The main masts with a fore-and-aft and square-rigged topsail could move in any wind condition. It was about 80 feet long, 150 tons and could carry up to 100 men and 12 guns. The sloops were small, single-masted craft with an enormous sail spread which made them fast and agile. In the Caribbean, sloops were popular for their speed and ability to enter shallow waters, where larger battleships could not chase them. These vessels were also easy to remove barnacles from and were easy to keep in fighting fit shape. Warships, battleships and frigates became popular because of their weapon-carrying ability. Pirate Flags When a pirate’s flag was seen, it struck fear into the hearts of prospective victims. Many gave up as soon as they saw the flag. The early pirates flew a red flag, presumably as a warning not to oppose or fight back. This was known as the Bloody Flag and it was flown along with the national flag of their country. Pirates raised the black flag if the vessel under attack showed resistance and it sent out a clear warning that “no quarter would be given”. Pirates used symbols as part of their strategy to instill fear. Skeletons, flaming swords, and hourglasses were among their favorite symbols. The most popular was the “Jolly Roger”, a white skull-and-crossbones on a black background. This was probably derived from the French flag known as “Jolie Rouge” or “rouge laws” in England which were meant for dealing with thieves and vagabonds. The word Roger could have originated from this. Or, the name could have even come from the very macho concept of the raging bull as Roger was a name commonly given by the English to their stud bull. The skull-and-crossbones symbol was the symbol of death. Associated symbols like the raised glass could have meant that the pirate was toasting death, while dancing skeletons meant flirting with death. Sometimes, two or three symbols were used together. The much-feared Blackbeard flag had a horned skeleton holding an hourglass and a spear next to a bleeding heart. Along with the skull-and-crossbones flag, Bartholomew Roberts had a complex flag showing a pirate holding an hourglass alongside a skeleton clutching a spear. These symbols could have reflected the feelings of the pirates as well as the fear they wished to evoke. Today the Jolly Roger has become a symbol of adventure and possibly the most recognizable symbol of piracy. But behind the mask of adventure on the high seas, lies many a tale of horror and bloodshed! Ships were altered to make space for guns, and the expression “making her flush,” meant removing and adjusting the ship to make room for fighting. Extra guns were fitted by piercing the hull, while timber made the ship stronger to handle the extra weaponry. Swivel guns were mounted on gunwales for easy operation. Modern pirate ships are swifter and outfitted with high-tech equipment. It is suspected that they use satellites to spy on cargo ships and tankers. They have modern artillery, and accessories like scooters and smaller vessels that allow them to attack and get back to the main ship. They are quieter and do not announce their coming, much unlike a 17th century ship that proudly set up sail that made ships surrender out of fear!