The phenomenon of piracy has given human history many names of legendary adventurers. The peak of sea robberies came in the 17th century, when the World Ocean was the arena of the struggle between Spain, England and some other growing European colonial powers. Most often, pirates made their living by independent criminal robberies, but some of them ended up in public service and deliberately harmed the foreign fleet.

Francis Drake

Born in 1540, he came from an ordinary farming family, and there was no sign that he would become a great pirate and navigator. A sharp turn in his life happened at the age of 12, when his parents moved to Kent. There, the teenager became a cabin boy on a trading barge. The ship was owned by his distant relative. Dying, he passed on the ship to Drake. So, by an amazing coincidence, at the age of 18, the young man turned out to be a captain.

Like all other contemporary sailors, Francis dreamed of the distant western seas, where the Spaniards continued to rule since their discovery. The most famous pirates of that time, as one, hunted the royal galleons laden with American gold. The Spaniards really controlled the West Indies and were not going to give its resources to the British. There were constant skirmishes between the ships of these two countries. In one of them in 1567, Francis Drake nearly lost his life. Of the entire English flotilla, only two ships survived. After this episode, the Spaniards became Drake's sworn enemies.

Francis received from his authorities a privateer patent and the right to freely plunder enemy bases. Taking this opportunity, the pirate captured Spanish fortresses and outposts in the Caribbean. In 1572, his squad intercepted a huge cargo of silver. The robber sailed to England with 30 tons of precious metal.

Drake became famous not only as the thunderstorm of the Spaniards, but also as a brave navigator. In 1577, Queen Elizabeth I sent him on a round-the-world expedition. It was this pirate who became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. During his travels, he found out that Tierra del Fuego is an island, and not the southern continent, as was previously believed in Europe. After his triumphant return, Francis Drake received a knighthood and became a sir. The high rank did not change the habits of the sea wolf. On the contrary, over and over again he was eager for another adventurous voyage.

In 1588, Francis Drake participated in the defeat of the Spanish Invincible Armada. The victory of the English fleet foreshadowed British naval rule for several centuries. After this success, Drake went on expeditions to the West Indies several times. In it, he destroyed enemy pirate bases that hindered the lucrative English trade. Sir Drake died in 1596 while traveling in Panama. His lead coffin was buried in the ocean. Without a doubt, the adventurer is the most famous pirate of the 16th century.

Henry Morgan

Henry Morgan was born in 1635 in the Welsh countryside to a landowner's family. The boy could become the heir of his father, but from childhood his passion was not agriculture, but the sea. As time has shown, love for distant horizons proved to be justified. The most famous pirates envied the success of Henry Morgan, who became a living legend of his time.

As a young man, an Englishman was hired on a ship sailing to the harbor of the island of Barbados. Once in the Caribbean, Morgan began an amazing career as a pirate. Joining the sea robbers, he moved to Jamaica. Junga quickly became a participant in raids, the main purpose of which was to loot ships that came to hand. In a short time, the boy learned all the laws and customs of marine life. Already in his youth, he became the owner of a considerable capital, cobbled together from pirate proceeds and winnings in dice. With this money, Henry bought his first ship.

Very soon, even the most famous pirates heard about Morgan's prowess and luck. A group of like-minded people formed around the pirate. New ships began to join his ship. The growth of influence could not but lead to the growth of ambitions. In 1665, Morgan decided to abandon the looting of ships and began planning an operation to capture an entire city. His first target was Trujillo. Then the robber captured several Spanish bases in Cuba. Both ordinary privateers and the most famous pirates could not boast of such success.

Morgan's most famous military venture was his campaign in Panama in 1670. By this time, the robber had at his disposal a fleet of 35 ships and a team of 2 thousand people. This mob landed in Panama and moved to the Spanish fortress of the same name. Although the garrison numbered 2,500 soldiers, it was unable to defend the city. Taking Panama, the pirates exterminated all those who resisted and plundered everything they could reach. The city was set on fire and destroyed. After this raid, the names of the most famous pirates faded against the background of the name of Henry Morgan.

When an English citizen returned to Crown Jamaica, the authorities unexpectedly arrested him. The fact was that on the eve of London and Madrid made peace. The pirates did not act on behalf of the state, but enjoyed its benevolent connivance. Having made peace with Spain, the British government promised to bring its pirates in line. Henry Morgan was sent home. At home, a trial awaited him, but the trial turned out to be only a fake demonstration. The authorities were not going to punish the pirate who rendered them so many services in the fight against Spanish rule at sea.

Henry Morgan soon returned to Jamaica. He became Lieutenant Governor of the island and commander-in-chief of its fleet and army. In the future, the pirate continued to faithfully serve the crown. He died in 1688 and was buried with honors in the Church of Port Royal. A few years later, a catastrophic earthquake shook Jamaica, and Morgan's grave was washed into the ocean.

Anne Bonnie

Although sea robbery at all times has traditionally been considered an exclusively male business, the most famous female pirates are of no less interest. One of them was (born in 1700). The girl came from a wealthy Irish family. When she was still a child, her father acquired an estate in faraway America. So Ann moved to the New World.

At 18, her daughter ran away from home and embarked on an adventurous journey. She met a pirate and decided to join his sea voyages. The girl had to get used to men's clothing and learn the skills of fighting and shooting. Rackham's team was captured by the authorities in 1720. The captain was executed, but the punishment for Ann was constantly postponed due to her pregnancy. Her further fate remained unknown.

According to one version, Bonnie freed herself and died during another raid, according to another, her influential father rescued her, after which the former robber spent her entire life in South Carolina and died in 1782 at a ripe old age. Be that as it may, the most famous female pirates (another famous robber at the time was even more rumored than their male companions.

Blackbeard

The legendary figure of Blackbeard remains one of the most recognizable in the pirate pantheon. Edward Teach was hiding under this nickname. Almost nothing is known about his childhood. The sailor made a name for himself in 1713, when, at the age of 33, he joined the robbers of Benjamin Hornigold. Like all world-famous pirates, this team traded in the attractive Caribbean Sea. Teach was a true pirate ideal. He knew nothing but regular raids and robberies. His ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, terrified sailors and civilians alike.

In 1717, thanks to the efforts of the Governor of the Bahamas, the authorities began an uncompromising struggle against pirates. In the new unusual conditions, many robbers (including the same Hornigold) decided to lay down their arms and receive a royal pardon. However, Teach refused to change his lifestyle. Since then, he has become the # 1 enemy of the British military and naval forces.

Many famous pirates who did not want to fit into the new order joined Blackbeard. The most famous adventure of this captain was the blockade of Charleston in South Carolina. The raiders captured many high-ranking citizens and received a colossal ransom in exchange for their return.

The treachery of the owner of "Queen Anne's Revenge" did not go unpunished. The authorities promised £ 100 for the pirate's head, which was then a fortune. The real hunt has begun on Blackbeard. Very soon, on November 22, 1718, he died in a boarding battle against the team of Lieutenant Robert Maynard. Often the most famous pirates and their ships roiled the seas for an extremely short but eventful period. The lot of Blackbeard was the same.

Bartholomew Roberts

The fame enjoyed by the most famous pirates in history gave rise to many rumors and myths around them. Bartholomew Roberts was no exception to this rule. It is he who is credited with the authorship of the Code of Pirates - a set of rules according to which many generations of sea robbers lived.

Roberts was born in 1682 in the small Welsh town of Haverfordwest. His sea voyages began on a slave ship, where Bartholomew was the captain's mate. He got to the pirates at the age of 37, when he was hired on the ship "Princess of London". Within a month and a half, the novice robber was elected captain of his own ship.

Roberts' further independent ventures made him famous in many seas and countries. At that time, it was believed that he was the most famous pirate in the world. Bartholomew's team operated not only in the Caribbean, but also in the coastal waters of West Africa, Brazil and even Canada. Thugs robbed everything that could be profitably sold: ships with precious metals, galleons with northern furs, barges with rare American goods. Roberts made his flagship a hijacked French brig, which he called the "Royal Pirate."

Bartholomew was killed in 1722 during another trip to Africa, where he intended to engage in the lucrative slave trade. The legendary pirate was killed by his companions' addiction to drinking. When a British ship unexpectedly attacked Roberts' ship, his entire crew was dead drunk. The most famous pirates of the Caribbean and admirals of the Royal Navy were amazed at what had happened: it seemed to everyone that Bartholomew was invincible. Roberts stood out against the background of his comrades not only for his own successes, but also for his habit of dressing well, as well as a disgust for gambling and foul language. There is no doubt that he was one of the most extravagant pirates of his time.

Henry Avery

During his short life, he managed to acquire many nicknames. Some contemporaries called him Lanky Ben, others - the Archpirate. Avery's love of the sea was predetermined by his own roots. Henry's father served as a captain in the English navy. In 1659, a son appeared in the officer's family, who was destined to become one of the brightest and most legendary pirates of his era.

At first, the future criminal sailed on merchant ships and only then changed them to robber ones. In 1694, 25-year-old Emery was hired on a privateer ship. The main difference between such a ship and the classic pirate ship was that it robbed and attacked foreign merchants with the permission of its government. Sometimes contracts were violated: when the salaries on the ship ceased to be paid, the crew rebelled. The sailors decided to become pirates and instead of the old captain they chose a new one. It turned out to be Henry Emery.

The new leader of the robbers left the Caribbean and went to the Indian Ocean, where there was also something to profit from. Madagascar became the place of the first long stop. Emery's team then attacked ships belonging to the Indian Mughal Empire. The robbers managed to seize a huge amount of rare oriental goods and all kinds of jewelry. All pirates of America dreamed of such a profitable enterprise. After that expedition, Avery disappeared from sight. It was rumored that he moved to England and tried to start an honest business and ended up completely broke.

Thomas Tew

The path followed during his famous expedition by Henry Emery was called the "Pirate Circle". Thomas Tew was the first to take this route (Atlantic - southern Africa - Madagascar - India). Like Emery, he started out as a privateer and ended up as a pirate. In 1693, he robbed several ships in the Red Sea. Before his attack, European thugs had never hunted in this area. Perhaps this is why Tew's success is connected - no one expected the appearance of the Caribbean gentlemen of fortune.

During his second voyage to Madagascar, Thomas met by chance with Henry Emery. With rumors spreading about easy money in Eastern countries, the most famous sea robbers now sought to emulate Tew's success. In the memory of the pirates, this captain remained precisely as the discoverer of the "Circle". He did not have time to do more. In 1695, Thomas Tew was killed in an attack on the Mughal flotilla.

Thomas Cavendish

The list, which includes the most famous pirates in world history, cannot be complete without mentioning Thomas Cavendish (1560-1592). He was a contemporary of Francis Drake. The biographies of these two pirates, acting in the interests of the English crown, have many similarities. Cavendish, following Drake, decided to travel around the world. The expedition, made in 1586-1588, was not at all peaceful. Skirting America, English pirates robbed many Spanish ships filled to overflowing with gold. In a sense, Thomas Cavendish's journey was audacious. The Spaniards considered the Pacific Ocean their "inland lake" and were furious when foreign robbers penetrated these still plainly unknown waters.

The most lucrative attack was made by the Cavendish team off the coast of Mexico. The subjects of Elizabeth I attacked the galleon, which was carrying an annual supply of Peruvian gold (120 thousand pesos). Another lucrative pirate venture was a camp in Java. This island was famous for its pepper and cloves. Spices at that time were valued for the weight of precious metals. Cavendish managed to get hold of a large load of this expensive commodity. The pirates returned to their native Plymouth in 1588. Having traveled around the world in 2 years and 50 days, they set a speed record that was held for two whole centuries.

Cavendish quickly spent his fortune. A few years after his amazing success, he assembled a second expedition, intending to exactly repeat his past triumph. However, this time the pirate was haunted by bad luck. In 1592, he died in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Presumably, Cavendish's ship sank near Ascension Island.

Francois Olone

Although the most famous pirates and their ships were generally associated with England, other countries also had their nuggets. For example, the French Francois Olone (1630-1671) left a significant mark in history. In his youth, he became famous in the main Caribbean port of the pirates of Tortuga. In 1662, the young robber received a marque patent and began to hunt Spanish ships. One day, Olone's ship crashed. The pirate was thrown onto the Mexican coast, where he, along with his team, was attacked by the Spaniards who arrived in time. All the French were killed, and only in time pretended to be dead, Olona managed to survive.

François's most ambitious undertaking was his capture of the Spanish city of Maracaibo in modern Venezuela. The daredevils who attacked the colony fit on only five ships. On the way, pirates plundered a Spanish ship and obtained a valuable cargo of jewels and cocoa. Arriving on the mainland, Olone led the storming of the fort, which was garrisoned 800 people. The pirates captured the fortress and obtained 80,000 silver piastres. In honor of the fall of Maracaibo, the captain was nicknamed "the scourge of the Spaniards."

The last campaign for the famous French robber was his expedition to Nicaragua. After three months of looking for money, the pirates hijacked a ship laden with cheap paper. Due to failure, part of the team returned to Tortuga. Olone continued the raid, but unfortunately for the captain near Cartagena, his ship ran aground. Having reached the coast, a French detachment of 40 people was attacked by a crowd of Indians. Local cannibals tore and ate Olone and his crew.

Amaro Pargo

Amaro Pargo is one of the most famous Spanish pirates. He was born in 1678 in the Canary Islands and in his youth began the business of transporting slaves from Africa to America. Free laborers on the plantations were highly prized, thanks to which Pargo quickly became rich. He was the sworn enemy of Blackbeard and of all English pirates in general.

Before his death in 1747, Pargo drew up a will, in which he indicated that he had buried a chest with fabulous treasures: silver, gold, pearls, jewelry, precious stones and expensive fabrics. For several decades, many adventurers, including the most famous pirates, have tried to find this treasure. There are still a lot of blank spots in the history of Pargo's legacy. Despite a long search, no one found the treasure of the Spanish pirate.

Adventure Galley is the favorite ship of William Kidd, an English privateer and pirate. This unusual galley-frigate was equipped with straight sails and oars, which made it possible to maneuver both against the wind and in calm weather. The 287-ton ship with 34 cannons carried 160 crew and was primarily intended to destroy other pirate ships.

Queen Anne's Revenge, the flagship of the legendary Captain Edward Teach, nicknamed Blackbeard, this 40-gun frigate was originally called the Concorde and belonged to Spain, then moved to France until finally captured by Blackbeard. Under his leadership, the ship was fortified and renamed. "Queen Anne's Revenge" sank dozens of merchant and military ships that stood in the way of the famous pirate.

Whydah is the flagship of Black Sam Bellamy, one of the pirates of the golden age of sea robbery. The Ouidah was a fast and agile vessel capable of carrying many treasures. Unfortunately for Black Sam, only a year after the start of the pirate "career" the ship fell into a terrible storm and was thrown into the shallows. The entire team, except for two people, died. By the way, Sam Bellamy was the richest pirate in history, according to the Forbes recount, his fortune in the modern equivalent was about 132 million dollars.

Royal Fortune belonged to Bartholomew Roberts, the famous Welsh corsair, whose death ended the golden age of piracy. Bartholomew changed several ships during his career, but the 42-gun three-masted ship of the line was his favorite. On it he accepted his death in a battle with the British warship "Swallow" in 1722.

Fancy is the ship of Henry Avery, also known as Lanky Ben and the Archiperate. The Spanish 30-gun frigate Charles II successfully plundered French ships, but in the end a riot broke out on it, and power passed to Avery, who served as the first mate. Avery renamed the ship Imagination and sailed on it until he finished his career.

The Happy Delivery is a small but beloved ship of George Lauter, an 18th century English pirate. His signature tactic was to ram an enemy ship with his own ship with a simultaneous lightning-fast boarding.

The Golden Hind was an English galleon commanded by Sir Francis Drake who traveled around the world between 1577 and 1580. Initially, the ship was called the Pelican, but upon entering the Pacific Ocean, Drake renamed it in honor of his patron, Lord Chancellor Christopher Hutton, who had a golden doe on his coat of arms.

The Rising Sun was a ship owned by Christopher Moody, a truly ruthless thug who took no prisoners on principle. This 35-gun frigate terrified Moody's enemies until he was safely hanged - but it went down in history as the most unusual pirate flag known, a yellow on a red background, and even with a winged hourglass to the left of the skull.

The Speaker is the first of the big ships of the corsair John Bowen, a successful pirate and brilliant tactician. The Talkative is a large 50-gun ship with a displacement of 450 tons, originally used to transport slaves and, after being captured by Bowen, for daring attacks on Moorish ships.

Revenge is a ten-gun sloop of Steed Bonnet, also known as the "Gentleman of the Pirates." Bonnet lived a busy, albeit short life, having managed to be a small landowner, serve under Blackbeard's command, fall under an amnesty, and again take the path of piracy. The small, maneuverable Retribution sank many of the larger ships.

Large and tiny, powerful and maneuverable - all these ships, as a rule, were built for completely different purposes, but sooner or later ended up in the hands of the corsairs. Some ended their "careers" in battle, others were resold, others were drowned in storms, but they all somehow glorified their owners.

Pendossia is an aggressor country. This is written in her family because from the very first days of her creation, the main backbone of the population in her was all sorts of aggressive trash from all over Europe. Having swam across the ocean, these dregs of society immediately behaved like the most notorious aggressors and, what is most disgusting, the pendos still cannot stop. Pendossia is an island surrounded on both sides by the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. Despite the excellent climatic conditions, the Pendos do not want to live peacefully, also because the upper class of Pendossia consists mainly of the Naglo-Saxons, and these are scum. Aggressors and colonialists to the bone. It is for this reason that Pendossia has the largest fleet, which, however, is only strong against the Papuans, armed with bows, spears and boomerangs. Against the major continental powers, that is, against Russia and China, the pendos are nowadays stupid to fight. Even in spite of the presence of a huge navy, a rather detailed description of which you will find under the cut. The question arises, will you survive in the confrontation with the Pendos fleet? The answer is quite simple. In the presence of the Strategic Missile Forces, we FSUs the entire Pendossky pirate fleet. If all their troughs, no matter how steep and modern they are, leave their home ports and move in our direction, then those of them who do not go to Cthulhu in the depths of the ocean after a massive thermonuclear strike will have nowhere to return, because only 30- 40 minutes is quite enough for Pendossia to disappear from words completely and forever. So we somehow don’t care about the Pendossian fleet.

The commander of the same cruiser, beaten and thrown out of Soviet territorial waters (incident off the Crimean coast, 1988), was not dismissed, but on the contrary, went on a promotion, taking command of an aircraft carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier Saratoga. Nothing good came of this venture: an admiral with a speaking surname Philip Dur was soon appointed responsible for another shameful incident. In 1992, during joint maneuvers with the Turkish Navy, his ship was accidentally shot by the Turkish frigate Muavenet. Some of the admiral's subordinates literally put their feet on the rocket console.

New century - new jokes.

The multipurpose nuclear submarine took a heroic death without lowering the flag in the face of the enemy! As the investigation later established, the “enemy” turned out to be the 24-year-old painter of the shipyard Casey J. Fury. Trying to finish his shift early, he set fire to rags in one of the submarine's rooms and left the workplace to the sound of sirens from fire brigades. He has nowhere else to rush - Fury will spend the next 17 years in a federal prison cell (on the causes of the fire on the Miami submarine, 2013).

These were funny jokes. But there are also not funny ones.

The Americans have more cruisers and destroyers than the rest of the world combined:

- 22 missile cruisers of the "Ticonderoga" type;
- 62 Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyers (+ six more at various stages of construction);
- 2 under construction rocket and artillery destroyers of the "Zamvolt" type (out of three planned).

"Berks" are rapidly going into the lead, becoming the largest-batch type of warship with a displacement of over 5000 tons in the history of navigation. Given the plans to build a third sub-series of these destroyers and the slow pace of shipbuilding in other countries, the US Navy will hold the lead in the number of destroyers, at least until the middle of this century.

USS Zumwalt

Zamvolt will be as powerful as WWII battleships. Pentagon officials are enthusiastic, however, the number of new super destroyers was limited to just three units (at a cost of $ 7 billion per ship, including R&D). 80 missile silos, 920 high-precision artillery ammunition of 155 mm caliber, full automation, electric "transmission", multifunctional radar with active phased array and stealth technology ... Despite this, the huge destroyer cruiser looks like a fishing felucca on radar. In addition, it has a weak wake - the destroyer will be practically invisible in images from space. It is scary to think that one such ship will surpass the entire Black Sea Fleet in power.

Launcher

Another surprise from American engineers is the Mk.41 universal launcher. The lightweight structure of space trusses, mounted below the deck of the ship, allows the use of the entire range of US Navy missiles, with the exception of submarine ballistic missiles. The rest - cruise "Tomahawks", anti-aircraft missiles SM-2 and SM-6, self-defense missiles ESSM (four in a mine), transatmospheric interceptors SM-3, anti-submarine rocket torpedoes ASROC-VL, promising anti-ship missiles LRASM. The missiles can be installed in any combination, in accordance with the forthcoming tasks of the ship. American destroyers carry 90 ... 96 launch silos (cells) on board. Cruisers - 122. Ships of their NATO allies - from 8 to 48.

Launch of the Tomahawk CRBD

Submarine forces

The opinion that the Yankees are betting on expensive aircraft carriers, while we have chosen a cheaper and more efficient submarine fleet, has strengthened in the common consciousness. This is not entirely true. Yankees are also aware of the incredible capabilities of submarines, so they treat this type of technology with great attention and respect.

Currently, the US Navy has 72 nuclear-powered submarines (more than all countries in the world combined):

- 40 multipurpose nuclear submarines of the Los Angeles type (the last one was built in 1996);
- 11 multipurpose nuclear submarines of the "Virginia" type (seven more boats are at various stages of construction, plans include the construction of at least 30 submarines to replace the aging "Losy");
- 3 multipurpose nuclear submarines of the "SeaWolf" type (real "Zamvolts" of the underwater world, the most powerful submarines-hunters, which did not go into series due to the collapse of the USSR; the last of the "wolves" was completed in 2003 in the form of a special operations submarine);
- 14 strategic Ohio-class SSBNs with Trident-2 ballistic missiles;
- 4 converted Ohio-class SSGNs (22 mines were converted into launch canisters for Tomahawks, the maximum ammunition load is 154 cruise missiles. The two remaining mines are used as airlocks for the exit of combat swimmers).

Multipurpose nuclear submarine "North Dakota" leaves the assembly shop, September 2013

Aircraft carriers

They have never been proven useful in the past 50 years. However, they do exist. And the very fact of the creation of such technology unequivocally hints at the capabilities of the American shipbuilding industry.

10 nuclear powered "Nimitz" and 10 universal amphibious assault ships-helicopter carriers with a continuous flight deck ("Tarawa", "Wasp", "America" ​​with a total displacement of 40-45 thousand tons), which can also be used as light aircraft carriers with "vertical" ( "Harrier II" or promising F-35B).

Reconnaissance and strike drone X-47B aboard the aircraft carrier "Harry Truman"

Amphibious forces

Conventional Mistral-class amphibious assault ships in the US Navy as stars on their flag:

- 9 amphibious transports-docks of the "San Antonio" type (two more are under construction);
- 12 obsolete landing ships of the Harpers Ferry and Whitby Island types;
- 1 amphibious assault ship "Austin" - currently used as a platform for testing laser weapons.

In addition to the listed landing ships, the Navy has dozens of landing ships created on the basis of high-speed civilian container ships. Officially, these ships belong to the Sea Transport Command and are manned by civilian crews. In peacetime, Leviathans lie down in secret parking lots on islands in the Pacific and Indian Ocean (Guam, Diego Garcia) in order to wake up at the right time and deliver a tank army with all the necessary equipment and equipment to the other end of the Earth.

These gas pipelines are huge (length 300 meters, in / and “loaded” over 60 thousand tons) and an unusually high speed (25-30 knots). Unlike conventional transports, these amphibious assault ships are able to unload in almost any conditions, incl. on unequipped coastlines (lighters, pontoons) or even on the high seas (using MLP transshipment terminals).

Epilogue

"The impregnable walls of Britain - the wooden sides of its ships"

A nautical nation, the heiress of the British Empire, from birth absorbing sea salt and a passion for the water element. Thousands of kilometers of maritime borders, washed by warm seas and two great oceans. Hundreds of overseas bases, dozens of allies, critical dependence on maritime trade, and a 3,000-mile wide "anti-tank moat" with salt water. All of this obviously influenced the historical development of the United States, and to this day makes the American public treat their fleet in awe.

The capabilities of the US industry allowed the Yankees to conduct hostilities in a relaxed mode, not particularly straining about the inevitable losses. In August 1942, a Japanese squadron shot four American and one Australian cruiser (“the second Pearl Harbor”) overnight. It is still unclear how the watchkeepers of all five cruisers were able to oversleep the enemy, despite the volleys of 203-mm guns that thundered all night and the bright flashes of flares visible from a couple of tens of miles. The Japanese went around the island of Savo, but every cruiser they met slept peacefully and did not prepare for an attack at all.

As for the lost ships, this is a profitable business. Over the next four years, the Yankees built another 40 more powerful and modern cruisers.

Ultimately, the Yankees flattened Japan, sinking 1200 ships of the imperial fleet during the war years. The dying Japanese fleet resisted to the last, demonstrating miracles of bravery and heroism. The samurai in despair banged their heads on the decks of American aircraft carriers, but neither their endurance, nor their high fighting spirit, nor their bright victories at the beginning of the war could turn the tide of the war. American sailors tore the Imperial Navy to shreds. The ratio of personnel losses was 1 to 9.

The Yankees had their own heroes: the wounded commander of the submarine Howard Gilmore did not manage to reach the hatch and gave the order for an urgent dive when the submarine was suddenly attacked by Japanese destroyers (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor).

Captain Fleming, who rammed the Japanese cruiser Mikuma in his burning bomber.

Another submarine, Archerfish, has chalked up a record trophy - the aircraft carrier Shinano. The largest ship ever sunk in a naval battle.

Colossal combat experience. Absolute numerical superiority. Future technologies, often bordering on science fiction. 300 warships of the ocean zone. 3700 units of aircraft. "Unsinkable budget" of $ 150 billion.

The mutated "Two-power standard" (the old British rule, according to which the British fleet had to double the fleet of the nearest rival), turned the US Navy into a fierce clot of combat matter, surpassing in its power all existing fleets on Earth.

Missile destroyer Spruence, 61st ship of its type

Marine radar base SBX. A floating analogue of the Don-2N radar (a centimeter-range over-the-horizon missile attack warning station). The basis for the marine radar was the CS-50 oil platform built at the Vyborg shipyard

The MQ-4C "Triton" drone of the Naval Aviation. Takeoff weight ~ 15 tons. The UAV is capable of spending 24 hours at an altitude of 18 thousand meters, having surveyed 2.7 million square miles of the ocean surface during this time.

Pirates are sea (or river) robbers. The word "pirate" (lat. Pirata) comes, in turn, from the Greek. πειρατής, cognate with the word πειράω ("to try, to test"). Thus, the meaning of the word would be "trying his luck". Etymology testifies to how shaky the border between the professions of seafarer and pirate was from the very beginning.

Henry Morgan (1635-1688) became the most famous pirate in the world, enjoying a kind of fame. This man became famous not so much for his corsair exploits as for his activities as a commander and politician. Morgan's main merit was helping England to seize control of the entire Caribbean Sea. Since childhood, Henry was a fidget, which was reflected in his adult life. In a short time he managed to be a slave, gather his own gang of thugs and get his first ship. Many people were robbed along the way. While in the service of the queen, Morgan directed his energy to the destruction of the Spanish colonies, he did it perfectly. As a result, everyone recognized the name of the active sailor. But then the pirate suddenly decided to settle down - he got married, bought a house ... However, his violent temper took his toll, and in his spare time, Henry realized that it was much more profitable to capture coastal cities than just rob ships. Morgan once used a clever move. On the way to one of the cities, he took a large ship and stuffed it to the top with gunpowder, sending it to the Spanish port at dusk. The huge explosion led to such a commotion that there was simply no one to defend the city. So the city was taken, and the local fleet was destroyed, thanks to the cunning of Morgan. Storming Panama, the commander decided to attack the city from land, letting the army go around the city. As a result, the maneuver was a success, the fortress fell. Morgan spent the last years of his life as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. His whole life was spent at a frantic pirate pace, with all the delights of alcohol befitting the occupation. Only rum won the gallant sailor - he died of liver cirrhosis and was buried as a nobleman. True, the sea took his ashes - the cemetery after the earthquake plunged into the sea.

Francis Drake (1540-1596) was born in England to a priest's family. The young man began his maritime career as a cabin boy on a small merchant ship. It was there that the smart and observant Francis learned the art of sailing. Already at the age of 18, he received command of his own ship, which he inherited from the old captain. In those days, the queen blessed pirate raids, so long as they were directed against the enemies of England. During one of these voyages, Drake fell into a trap, but despite the death of 5 other English ships, he managed to save his ship. The pirate quickly became famous for his cruelty, and fortune fell in love with him. Trying to take revenge on the Spaniards, Drake begins to wage his own war against them - robbing their ships, cities. In 1572, he managed to capture the "Silver Caravan", which was carrying more than 30 tons of silver, which immediately made the pirate rich. An interesting feature of Drake was the fact that he not only sought to plunder more, but also to visit previously unexplored places. As a result, many sailors were grateful to Drake for his work on clarifying and correcting the world map. With the Queen's permission, the pirate embarked on a secret expedition to South America, with the official version of Australia's exploration. The expedition was a great success. Drake maneuvered so cleverly, avoiding enemy traps, that he was able to travel around the world on his way home. On the way, he attacked Spanish settlements in South America, circled Africa and brought potato tubers home. The total profit from the campaign was unprecedented - more than half a million pounds. Then it was twice the budget of the entire country. As a result, Drake was knighted on board the ship - an unprecedented event that has no analogues in history. The apogee of the pirate's greatness came at the end of the 16th century, when he took part as an admiral in the defeat of the Invincible Armada. Later, luck turned away from the pirate, during one of his subsequent voyages to the American shores, he fell ill with tropical fever and died.

Edward Teach (1680-1718) is better known by his nickname Blackbeard. It was because of this external attribute that Teach was considered a creepy fiend. The first mentions of the activities of this corsair date back only to 1717, what the Englishman was doing before that remained unknown. By indirect indications, one can guess that he was a soldier, but deserted and became a filibuster. Then he was already pirating, catching horror on people with his beard, which covered almost all of his face. Teach was very brave and courageous, which earned the respect of other pirates. He wicked wicks into his beard, which, smoking, terrified opponents. In 1716, Edward was given command of his sloop to conduct marque operations against the French. Teach soon seized the larger ship and made it his flagship, renaming it Queen Anne's Revenge. The pirate at this time acts in the Jamaica area, robbing everyone and recruiting new henchmen. By the beginning of 1718, there were already 300 people under the leadership of Teach. During the year, he managed to capture more than 40 ships. All the pirates knew that a bearded man was hiding a treasure on one of the uninhabited islands, but no one knew exactly where. The pirate's atrocities against the British and the robbery of colonies by them, forced the authorities to declare a hunt for Blackbeard. An impressive bounty was announced and Lieutenant Maynard was hired to hunt down Teach. In November 1718, the pirate was overtaken by the authorities and was killed during the battle. Teach's head was severed, and his body was suspended from a yarn.

William Kidd (1645-1701). Born in Scotland not far from the docks, the future pirate from childhood decided to link his fate with the sea. In 1688, Kidd, being a simple sailor, survived a shipwreck near Haiti and was forced to become a pirate. In 1689, betraying his comrades-in-arms, William took possession of the frigate, calling it "Blessed William". With the help of a privateer patent, Kidd took part in the war against the French. In the winter of 1690, part of the team left him, and Kidd decided to settle down. He married a wealthy widow, taking possession of land and property. But the pirate's heart demanded adventure, and now, after 5 years, he is already a captain again. The powerful frigate "Brave" was called upon to plunder, however, only the French. After all, the expedition was sponsored by the state, which did not need unnecessary political scandals. However, the sailors, seeing the scarcity of profits, periodically revolted. The seizure of a rich ship with French goods did not save the situation. Fleeing from his former subordinates, Kidd surrendered to the British authorities. The pirate was taken to London, where he quickly became a bargaining chip in the struggle of political parties. Kidd was sentenced to death on charges of piracy and the murder of a ship's officer (who was the instigator of the mutiny). In 1701, the pirate was hanged, and his body hung in an iron cage over the Thames for 23 years, as a warning to the corsairs of imminent punishment.

Mary Read (1685-1721). From the very childhood, the girl was dressed in the clothes of a boy. So the mother tried to hide the death of her early deceased son. At the age of 15, Mary went to serve in the army. In the battles in Flanders, she, under the name Mark, showed miracles of courage, but she did not wait for advancement. Then the woman decided to join the cavalry, where she fell in love with her colleague. After the end of hostilities, the couple got married. However, the happiness did not last long, her husband died unexpectedly, Mary, having changed into men's clothes, became a sailor. The ship fell into the hands of pirates, the woman was forced to join them, cohabitating with the captain. In battle, Mary wore a male uniform, participating in skirmishes on an equal basis with everyone. Over time, the woman fell in love with an artisan who helped the pirates. They even got married and were about to end the past. But even here the happiness did not last long. The pregnant Reed was caught by the authorities. When she was caught along with other pirates, she said that she had committed robberies against her will. However, other pirates showed that there was no one more decisive than Mary Reed in robbing ships and boarding. The court did not dare to hang the pregnant woman, she patiently waited for her fate in the Jamaica prison, not fearing a shameful death. But a strong fever finished her off earlier.

Olivier (Francois) le Wasser became the most famous French pirate. He was nicknamed "La Blues", or "buzzard". The Norman nobleman of noble birth was able to turn the island of Tortuga (now Haiti) into an impregnable fortress of filibusters. Initially, le Wasser was sent to the island to protect French settlers, but he quickly expelled the British (according to other sources - the Spaniards) and began to conduct his own policy. A talented engineer, the Frenchman designed an excellently fortified fortress. Le Wasser gave out very dubious documents as a filibuster giving him the right to hunt the Spaniards, taking the lion's share of the spoils for himself. In fact, he became the leader of the pirates, without taking a direct part in the hostilities. When in 1643 the Spaniards could not take the island, being surprised to find fortifications, the authority of le Vasseur increased markedly. He finally refused to obey the French and pay royalties to the crown. However, the spoiled character, tyranny and tyranny of the Frenchman led to the fact that in 1652 his own friends killed him. According to legend, le Wasser collected and hid the largest treasure of all time, worth £ 235 million in today's money. The information about the location of the treasure was kept in the form of a cryptogram on the governor's neck, but the gold was never found.

William Dampier (1651-1715) is often referred to not only as a pirate, but also as a scientist. After all, he made three whole voyages around the world, discovering many islands in the Pacific Ocean. Orphaned early, William chose the nautical path. At first he took part in trade voyages, and then he managed to make war. In 1674, the Englishman came to Jamaica as a trade agent, but his career in this capacity did not work out, and Dampier was forced to become a sailor of a merchant ship again. After exploring the Caribbean, William settled on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, on the Yucatan coast. Here he found friends in the form of runaway slaves and filibusters. Dampir's further life took place in the idea of ​​travel to Central America, plundering Spanish settlements on land and at sea. He sailed in the waters of Chile, Panama, New Spain. Dhampir almost immediately began taking notes of his adventures. As a result, in 1697 his book "A New Journey Around the World" was published, which made him famous. Dampier became a member of the most prestigious houses in London, entered the royal service and continued his research, writing a new book. However, in 1703, on an English ship, Dampier continued a series of robberies of Spanish ships and settlements in the Panama region. In 1708-1710, he took part as navigator of the corsair's round-the-world expedition. The works of the pirate scientist were so valuable to science that he is considered to be one of the fathers of modern oceanography.

Zheng Shi (1785-1844) is considered one of the most successful pirates. The scale of her actions will be evidenced by the facts that she commanded a fleet of 2,000 ships, on which more than 70 thousand sailors served. 16-year-old prostitute "Madame Jing" married the famous pirate Zheng Yi. After his death in 1807, the widow inherited a pirate fleet of 400 ships. The corsairs not only attacked merchant ships off the coast of China, but also swam deep into river estuaries, devastating coastal settlements. The emperor was so surprised by the actions of the pirates that he sent his fleet against them, but this did not have significant consequences. The key to Zheng Shi's success was the strictest discipline she established on the courts. She put an end to traditional pirate freedoms - the robbery of allies and the rape of prisoners were punishable by death. However, as a result of the betrayal of one of her captains, the female pirate was forced to conclude a truce with the authorities in 1810. Her further career took place as a keeper of a brothel and a gambling brothel. The history of the pirate woman is reflected in literature and cinema, there are many legends about her.

Edward Lau (1690-1724) is also known as Ned Lau. For most of his life, this man was engaged in petty theft. In 1719, his wife died in childbirth, and Edward realized that from now on nothing would tie him to the house. Two years later, he became a pirate operating near the Azores, New England and the Caribbean. This time is considered the end of the century of piracy, but Lau became famous for the fact that in a short time he managed to capture more than a hundred ships, while showing a rare bloodthirstiness.

Urouj Barbarossa(1473-1518) became a pirate at the age of 16 after the Turks took over his home island of Lesvos. Already at the age of 20, Barbarossa became a merciless and courageous corsair. Escaping from captivity, he soon seized a ship for himself, becoming the leader. Urouge entered into an agreement with the Tunisian authorities, which allowed him to organize a base on one of the islands in exchange for a share of the booty. As a result, Urouge's pirate fleet terrorized all Mediterranean ports. Having got involved in politics, Urouj eventually became the ruler of Algeria under the name of Barbarossa. However, the fight against the Spaniards did not bring good luck to the Sultan - he was killed. His business was continued by his younger brother, known as Barbaross II.

Bartholomew Roberts(1682-1722). This pirate was one of the most successful and fortunate in history. It is believed that Roberts was able to capture over four hundred ships. At the same time, the cost of the extraction of the pirate was more than 50 million pounds. And the pirate achieved such results in just two and a half years. Bartholomew was an unusual pirate - he was enlightened and loved to dress fashionably. Roberts was often seen in a burgundy waistcoat and breeches, he wore a hat with a red feather, and a gold chain with a diamond cross hung on his chest. The pirate did not abuse alcohol at all, as was customary in this environment. Moreover, he even punished his sailors for drunkenness. We can say that it was Bartholomew, who was nicknamed "Black Bart" and was the most successful pirate in history. In addition, unlike Henry Morgan, he never cooperated with the authorities. And the famous pirate was born in South Wales. His naval career began as third mate on a slave ship. Roberts was responsible for looking after the "cargo" and its safety. However, after being captured by the pirates, the sailor himself was in the role of a slave. Nevertheless, the young European was able to please Captain Howell Davis, who had captured him, and he accepted him into his crew. And in June 1719, after the death of the leader of the gang during the storming of the fort, it was Roberts who led the team. He immediately captured the ill-fated city of Principe on the coast of Guinea and razed it to the face of the earth. After going to sea, the pirate quickly captured several merchant ships. However, production off the African coast was scarce, which is why Roberts headed to the Caribbean in early 1720. The glory of the successful pirate overtook him, and the merchant ships were already shying away at the sight of the Black Bart's ship. In the north, Roberts sold African goods profitably. Throughout the summer of 1720 he was lucky - the pirate captured many ships, 22 of them right in the bays. However, even while engaging in robbery, Black Bart remained a devout man. He even managed to pray a lot in between murders and robberies. But it was this pirate who invented the cruel execution with the help of a board thrown over the side of the ship. The team loved their captain so much that they were ready to follow him even to the ends of the world. And the explanation was simple - Roberts was desperately lucky. At various times, he operated from 7 to 20 pirate ships. The teams included fugitive criminals and slaves of various nationalities who called themselves the "House of Lords". And the name of Black Bart terrified the entire Atlantic.

Jack Rackham (1682-1720). And this famous pirate had the nickname Calico Jack. The fact is that he loved to wear calico pants, which were brought from India. And although this pirate was not the cruellest or most fortunate, he managed to become famous. The fact is that there were two women in Rackham's team at once, dressed in men's clothes - Mary Reed and Anne Boni. Both of them were the pirate's mistresses. Thanks to this fact, as well as the courage and courage of his ladies, the Rackham team became famous. But luck changed him when, in 1720, his ship met the ship of the governor of Jamaica. At that time, the entire team of pirates was dead drunk. To get away from pursuit, Rackham ordered to cut the anchor. However, the military were able to catch up with him and take him after a short fight. The pirate captain, along with his entire crew, was hanged in Jamaica, in Port Royal. Before his death, Rackham asked for a date with Anne Boni. But she herself refused him this, saying that if the pirate had fought like a man, he would not have died like a dog. It is said that it is John Rackham who is the author of the famous pirate symbol - the skull and bones, "Jolly Roger".

Jean Lafitte (? -1826). This famous corsair was also a smuggler. With the tacit consent of the government of the young American state, he calmly plundered the ships of England and Spain in the Gulf of Mexico. The heyday of the pirate's activities fell on the 1810s. It is not known where or when exactly Jean Lafitte was born. It is possible that he was a native of Haiti and was an undercover Spanish agent. It was said that Lafite knew the Gulf Coast better than many cartographers. It was known for certain that he sold the stolen goods through his brother, a merchant, who lived in New Orleans. The Lafites illegally supplied slaves to the southern states, but thanks to their guns and people, the Americans were able to defeat the British in 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1817, under pressure from the authorities, a pirate settled on the Texas island of Galveston, where he even founded his own state of Campeche. Lafite continued to supply slaves as well, using intermediaries for this. But in 1821, one of his captains personally attacked a plantation in Louisiana. And although Lafitte is an impudent order, the authorities ordered him to sink his ships and leave the island. The pirate has only two ships left from the once whole fleet. Then Lafitte with a group of his followers settled on the island of Isla Mujeres near the coast of Mexico. Even then, he did not attack American ships. And after 1826, there is no information about the valiant pirate. In Louisiana itself, there are still legends about Captain Lafitte. And in the city of Lake Charles, even "Smuggler's Days" are held in memory of him. A nature reserve near the coast of Barataria is even named after the pirate. And in 1958, Hollywood even released a film about Lafitte, played by Yul Brynner.

Thomas Cavendish (1560-1592). Pirates not only plundered ships, but also were brave travelers, discovering new lands. In particular, Cavendish was the third sailor who decided to travel around the world. He spent his youth in the English fleet. Thomas led such a turbulent life that he quickly let go of all the inheritance he had inherited. And in 1585 he left the service and went to rich America for his share of the booty. He returned to his homeland rich. Easy money and the help of fortune made Cavendish choose the path of a pirate to gain fame and fortune. On July 22, 1586, Thomas sailed from Plymouth to Sierra Leone at the head of his own flotilla. The expedition aimed to find new islands, study winds and currents. However, this did not prevent to engage in parallel and outright robbery. At the first stop in Sierra Leone, Cavendish, along with his 70 sailors, robbed local settlements. A successful start allowed the captain to dream of future exploits. On January 7, 1587, Cavendish passed through the Strait of Magellan and then headed north along the coast of Chile. Before him, only one European passed this way - Francis Drake. The Spaniards controlled this part of the Pacific Ocean, generally calling it the Spanish Lake. The rumor of the British pirates forced the garrisons to gather. But the Englishman's flotilla was worn out - Thomas found a quiet bay for repairs. The Spaniards did not wait, finding pirates during the raid. However, the British not only repulsed the attack of the superior forces, but also put them to flight and immediately plundered several neighboring settlements. Two ships went further. On June 12 they reached the equator and until November the pirates were waiting for the "treasury" ship with all the proceeds of the Mexican colonies. Perseverance was rewarded, and the British captured a lot of gold and jewelry. However, when dividing the booty, the pirates fell out, and Cavendish was left with one ship. With him he went to the west, where robbery got a load of spices. On September 9, 1588, Cavendish's ship returned to Plymouth. The pirate not only became one of the first to sail around the world, but also did it very quickly - in 2 years and 50 days. In addition, 50 people from his team returned with the captain. This record was so significant that it lasted more than two centuries.

Piracy started as soon as humans started using floating facilities to transport goods. In different countries and in different eras, pirates were called filibusters, ushkuiniks, corsairs, privateers.

The most famous pirates in history left a significant mark: during their lifetime they inspired fear, after death their adventures continue to arouse unremitting interest. Piracy has had a great influence on culture: sea robbers have become central figures in many famous literary works, modern films and TV series.

10 Jack Rackham

9 William Kidd

The story of one of the most famous pirates in history, William Kidd, is still controversial among researchers of his life. Some historians are sure that he was not a pirate and acted strictly within the framework of a privateer patent. Nevertheless, he was found guilty of an attack on 5 ships and a murder. Despite trying to get his release in exchange for information about the place where the valuables were hidden, Kidd was sentenced to be hanged. After the execution, the body of the pirate and his accomplices was hung out for all to see over the Thames, where it hung for 3 years.

The legend of Kidd's hidden treasures has been thrilling for a long time. The belief that the treasure did exist was supported by literary works that referred to the pirate treasure. Kidd's hidden riches were searched for on many islands, but to no avail. The fact that the treasure is still not a myth is evidenced by the fact that in 2015 British divers found the wreckage of a pirate ship off the coast of Madagascar and under it a 50-kilogram ingot, which, according to experts, belonged to Captain Kidd.

8 Madame Shea

Madame Shi, or Ms. Zheng, is one of the world's most famous female pirates. After the death of her husband, she inherited his pirate fleet and put sea robbery on a grand scale. Under her command were two thousand ships and seventy thousand people. The most severe discipline helped her to command an entire army. For example, for unauthorized absence from the ship, the guilty one lost his ear. Not all of Madame Shi's subordinates were happy with this state of affairs, and one of the captains once revolted and went over to the side of the authorities. After the power of Madame Shi was weakened, she agreed to a truce with the emperor and subsequently lived to a ripe old age at large, running a brothel.

7 Francis Drake

Francis Drake is one of the most famous pirates in the world. Actually, he was not a pirate, but a corsair operating on the seas and oceans against enemy ships with the special permission of Queen Elizabeth. Devastating the coasts of Central and South America, he became immensely rich. Drake accomplished many great deeds: he opened the strait, which he named after himself, under his command, the British fleet defeated the Great Armada. Since then, one of the ships of the British Navy has been named after the famous navigator and corsair Francis Drake.

6 Henry Morgan

The list of the most famous pirates would be incomplete without the name of Henry Morgan. Despite the fact that he was born into a wealthy family of an English landowner, from his youth Morgan linked his life with the sea. He was hired on one of the ships as a cabin boy and was soon sold into slavery in Barbados. He managed to get over to Jamaica, where Morgan joined a gang of pirates. Several successful campaigns allowed him and his comrades to acquire a ship. Morgan was chosen as the captain, and it was a good decision. A few years later, 35 ships were under his command. With such a fleet, he managed to capture Panama in a day and burn the entire city. Since Morgan acted mainly against Spanish ships and pursued an active English colonial policy, after his arrest the pirate was not executed. On the contrary, Henry Morgan was promoted to Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica for his services to Britain in the fight against Spain. The famous corsair died at the age of 53 from liver cirrhosis.

5 Bartholomew Roberts

Bartholomew Roberts, aka Black Bart, is one of the brightest pirates in history, although he is not as famous as Blackbeard or Henry Morgan. Black Bart became the most successful filibuster in the history of piracy. During his short pirate career (3 years), he captured 456 ships. Its production is estimated at £ 50 million. It is believed that he created the famous "Pirate Code". He was killed in battle with a British warship. The body of the pirate, according to his will, was thrown into the water, and the remains of one of the greatest pirates were never found.

4 Edward Teach

Edward Teach, or Blackbeard, is one of the most famous pirates in the world. Almost everyone heard his name. He lived and was engaged in sea robbery Teach during the heyday of the golden age of piracy. Having entered the service at the age of 12, he gained valuable experience, which would then be useful to him in the future. According to historians, Teach participated in the War of the Spanish Succession, and after its end he deliberately decided to become a pirate. The fame of the ruthless filibuster helped Blackbeard capture ships without using weapons - seeing his flag, the victim surrendered without a fight. The pirate's merry life did not last long - Teach died during a boarding battle with a British warship pursuing him.

3 Henry Avery

The most famous pirates in history include Henry Avery, nicknamed Lanky Ben. The father of the future famous buccaneer was the captain of the British Navy. Since childhood, Avery dreamed of sea voyages. He began his career in the navy as a cabin boy. Then Avery was appointed first mate on a corsair frigate. The ship's crew soon revolted, and the first mate was proclaimed the captain of a pirate ship. So Avery took the path of piracy. He became famous for capturing the ships of Indian pilgrims heading to Mecca. The booty of pirates was unheard of in those days: 600 thousand pounds and the daughter of the Great Mogul, whom Avery later officially married. How the life of the famous filibuster ended is unknown.

2 Amaro Pargo

Amaro Pargo is one of the most famous filibusters of the golden age of piracy. Pargo was engaged in transporting slaves and made a fortune from it. The wealth allowed him to do charity work. He lived to a venerable age.

1 Samuel Bellamy

Some of the most famous sea robbers include Samuel Bellamy, known as Black Sam. He became a pirate to marry Maria Hallett. Bellamy was desperate for the funds to provide for his future family, and he joined Benjamin Hornigold's pirate crew. A year later, he became the captain of the robbers, allowing Hornigold to leave peacefully. Through a network of informers and spies, Bellamy was able to capture one of the fastest ships of the time, the frigate Waida. Bellamy died while sailing to his beloved. Vida was caught in a storm, the ship was run aground and the crew, including Black Sam, were killed. Bellamy's career as a pirate lasted only a year.