Characteristics of Menorcan corsair activity in the 18th century (and 2)

Crews

In the period for which more data is available, the average number of crew members on each ship is just over 50. In general, this figure was not used to exceed and only 14 per 100 of the registered ships had more than 100 crew. Originally, the crews were made up of seafarers. However, the rise of corsairism meant that in certain periods people from the interior of the island, without prior seafaring experience, joined the corsair activity. Immigrants, and even prisoners, also ended up forming part of the crews.

Armament

Especially in the ‘English periods’, privateers were well supplied with artillery, with cannon firing between four and twenty-four pound shells. Naturally, their number depended on the size and displacement of the boat. In addition to cannons, all corsairs mounted “pedreros”, small caliber and short pieces of bronze or iron that fired shrapnel or three-pound projectiles. they were loaded by the breech and were highly prized because their impact had little effect on the hull of the enemy ship, but it could greatly affect the rigging and crew. closer to the lower limit than to the upper one. As is known, they were boats with fine lines and two or three masts, with bowsprits and lateen sails, with a large sail area and very manoeuvrable.