Launch

The launch embodied the pirate's tactical advantage: speed without the deep-water commitment of a full-rigged ship. Unlike galleons or merchant vessels, which required deep anchorages and open water, launches could beach themselves, hide in mangrove creeks, and dart between islands. Captains like Henry Morgan and Bartholomew Roberts used launches as strike craft—fast enough to close on prey, shallow enough to pursue into waters where naval frigates could not follow. The launch was the pirate's sword; the galleon was his shield.

The launch's hull was a compromise between oared galley and sailing vessel. A shallow keel or centerboard allowed it to operate in 2–4 feet of water—critical in the Bahamas, off the Carolina coast, and in the Gulf of Mexico. The bow was often raked (angled forward) to reduce water resistance and improve speed. Launches relied on a combination of square and fore-and-aft sails (typically a sloop or cutter rig) for sailing, but retained 8–12 oars per side for becalmed conditions and precise maneuvering. This hybrid design meant a launch could be rowed silently into an anchorage at dawn, or sail away from a pursuing frigate by cutting into shallow water where the frigate's deeper draft prevented pursuit.

The launch evolved from Mediterranean galleys and North European rowing boats during the 16th and 17th centuries. By the Golden Age of Piracy (c.1650–1725), it had become the standard light warship and tender for naval squadrons, merchant convoys, and pirate flotillas. The Dutch, English, and French navies all employed launches as scout ships and ship's boats. Pirate captains—particularly those operating in the shallow waters of the Caribbean and American coast—favored launches for their independence and speed. The launch's heyday coincided with the rise of the buccaneer (1650–1680) and the transition to organized piracy (1680–1725). By the 1720s, as naval patrols intensified and piracy declined, the launch remained in use but lost its romantic association with the pirate trade.

The launch filled a tactical and logistical gap. Merchant vessels and naval ships-of-the-line were too large, slow, and deep-drafted for the shallow, confined waters where commerce and piracy intersected: river mouths, island passages, and coastal anchorages. A captain needed a fast, expendable craft to scout ahead, raid isolated settlements, or escape into waters where larger vessels could not follow. The launch also served as a tender—a supply and personnel boat for larger ships at anchor. For pirates, the launch was economic: it required fewer men, less maintenance, and less investment than a full ship, yet could carry enough guns and crew to overwhelm a merchant vessel or a naval patrol boat. It was the perfect tool for the 'hit-and-run' tactics that defined Golden Age piracy.

A launch's crew of 12–25 men lived in close quarters, often with minimal shelter. Watches rotated every four hours. When under sail, the crew managed the sails and rigging; when becalmed or in confined waters, they rowed in coordinated shifts. The launch's small hold meant frequent resupply—from captured vessels, coastal settlements, or hidden caches. Launches were often careened (beached and cleaned) every few weeks to maintain speed; barnacles and weed could reduce speed by 20–30%. In combat, the crew manned swivel guns (small cannons mounted on the gunwale), muskets, and cutlasses. Launches were frequently towed or carried aboard larger vessels and launched when needed, or operated independently as part of a flotilla. The boat's shallow draft meant it could be rowed into mangrove swamps or narrow creeks for concealment or to ambush merchant traffic.

Launches were built in shipyards across Europe and the Americas, but the Caribbean and North American colonies (particularly Jamaica, Barbados, and New England) became centers of launch construction during the Golden Age. The hull was typically carvel-planked (overlapping planks) or clinker-built (overlapping strakes), using oak for the frame and pine or elm for planking. Construction took 4–8 weeks for a standard 40-foot launch. The shallow keel was a critical innovation: some launches had a removable centerboard (a wooden or iron blade that could be raised or lowered) to adjust draft. The mast was typically a single pole of pine or spruce, stepped into the keel. Rigging was simple and light, relying on rope and pulley systems that a small crew could manage. Launches were often built to be disassembled or transported overland, which made them valuable for pirate bases in remote locations.