Privateers?

[Peng Qi]

That's an interesting idea, but I suspect no. I think people are overthinking this. They need a melee naval unit in this era and decided Privateers are far more interesting than throwing in a Sloop or something that has no more reason to be melee attack than Frigates. At least Privateers usually tried to move in close for an attack or would board an enemy ship. Plus, coastal raids were not unheard of. In other words, it makes perfect sense as a melee unit, which is what they needed.

I contend that, if this were the case, they could have easily used brigs instead of "privateers;" after all, a privateer isn't even a kind of ship, it's just a ship purpose.

 

[DemonMaster]

My guess is that it is a Melee Class ship that cost normal maintenance but with that difference that it will have a chance to take the enemy ship as a prize ship.

The naval units now have MELEE class ships. Wow. So you're going to be seeing ships do some serious hardcore melee action on the sea. It's useful to have a ship that can capture other ships... Introducing, the privateer class ship.

http://www.squidoo.com/sid-meier-s-civilization-v-gods-and-kings

 

[nokmirt]

A Privateer was a ship, owned by a private person (and not by a state) that was given a Letters of Marque by a state that allowed them to be part of any warfare of that state. As an incentive to take prize ships (instead of sinking them) was that the private owner (or owners sometimes) that they was allowed to keep the taken cargo. It became banned 1856 and more official in the 1958 Geneva-convention and 1982 by U.N.

Edit: Info from Swedish NE

HA HA HA!!!! That's what they want you to believe HAR HAR!!!!

Many privateers were ex pirates. Use a thief to catch a thief, or use a thief to steal from your enemies, to take their gold and use it for yourself. Not just any private person had those kinds of skills. Also, not just any private person would have the stomach to do what privateers do.

@ Peng Qi Privateers used a variety of ship types. Not just brigs. The barbary pirates used oared galleys for much of their work.

Remember that some pirates were privateers for a time and turned once again to piracy. Some of these ended up on the gallows and became food for crows. It is really all quite interesting.

I believe frigates and privateers should have a chance to capture a ship. Frigate captains were always after prize money. Leave the ship of the line ranged and let them fight in line of battle, that's what their built for. They are a symbol of power, of military prestige for the nation they serve.

 

[Peng Qi]

@ Peng Qi Privateers used a variety of ship types. Not just brigs. The barbary pirates used oared galleys for much of their work.

Uh, yeah, that's my point. If "Privateer" in the game is just "melee boat from age of sail," then they should have called it "Brig." If it has some mechanical aspect of being a privateer such as hidden nationality (which wouldn't make sense per se) or ship capturing, then it makes a bit more sense to call it a privateer. I still contend that calling a melee age of sail ship a "privateer" is like calling swordsmen "shock troops;" it doesn't explain what it is, just what it does.

 

[nokmirt]

Uh, yeah, that's my point. If "Privateer" in the game is just "melee boat from age of sail," then they should have called it "Brig." If it has some mechanical aspect of being a privateer such as hidden nationality (which wouldn't make sense per se) or ship capturing, then it makes a bit more sense to call it a privateer. I still contend that calling a melee age of sail ship a "privateer" is like calling swordsmen "shock troops;" it doesn't explain what it is, just what it does.

I see your point and agree with it. A privateer unit should act the part. By having them simply just be able to attack ships during war makes no sense. If that's the case why even have them? Frigates can do that job. They should at least give them the ability to enter rival territory.

To me it is strange how the devs have the Age of Sail set up anyway. All the navies have just frigates, it is utterly laughable. They can at least determine that later fleets had destroyers and battleships (although they overlook the cruiser at least early on), but cannot see that frigates were the destroyers of their day. The ship of the line was the battleship. I do not understand their thinking when they thought all of this out. Read some Dewey Lambdin or Julian Stockwin novels. Haven't you ever heard of Horatio Hornblower? Do some research IDK. Hire a historical advisor.

England has the only SoTL and they operate as a frigate!