What's the point of privateers?

[efg]

Hi, I'm new to Civ. 3 and I tried building some privateers(Sp), but they really suck. I mean plain old galleys beat them half the time. Can anyone please tell me what's the point of these units? Thanks in advance.

 

[werdhertz]

Privateers are a non-nation unit. Or, a better way to say it, they are nationless aka pirates. So you can attack a Civ while in peace with them, and they will never know it was you who did it.

I think the majority of people who play Civ3 will agree that they are kind of weak in the long run, but they CAN be useful if used at select moments and in mass groupings.

 

[WildFire]

Privateers are one of the worst units in the game (unless you mod them).

This has some replies on the topic.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39276&highlight=privateers