[Ansteorra] RE: Pirates, Privateers, etc...

[Duncan MacNamara]

>Generally being a pirate/raider wasn't a full time profession. The  Norse 
>for instance, were often traders. However, like many traders,  they weren't 
>above turning to piracy and raiding when that benefit to  risk ratio was 
>better for that than trading.
>
>It really isn't until rather late in period that you start to see  standing 
>navies and purpose built warships. Much of the earlier naval  fleets would 
>have been converted merchantmen commandeered for the war  effort. When 
>cannons started to be used on shipboard, merchantmen  often carried a few 
>cannon for self-protection. These same cannon can  be used for offensive as 
>well as defensive purposes.

The Iron Lotus is a converted Galleon which was built in 1575.

"The Galleon was an ocean-going warship used by the European naval powers in 
the 15th and 16th
centuries. A large, cumbersome vessel, the Galleon was three-masted and 
square-rigged. Usually
sporting two decks, with it's cannon batteries in broadsides. Galleons were 
mostly used to transport
gold, silver, slaves, and other cargo from the Americas, particularly by 
Spanish and Portugese traders."

Lord Duncan MacNamara
Captain of the Iron Lotus
Commodore of the Allied Outlanders Fleet