18th Century Pirates

Figures and Accessories

Orion 1:72 Scale Pirates of the Carribean.

18th century pirates are featured in many popular books and films, and they make a welcome addition to any Marlburian, Seven Years’ War, or American Revolutionary War miniature army collection. British, French, Dutch, Spanish, and American ships either engaged in or opposed piracy at the time. Regular infantry units and marines were deployed to defend port facilities in the Americas, and to attack pirate strongholds if and when they were discovered. Wargamers will find this chapter of colonial warfare fascinating enough to rekindle their interest in the horse&musket period of gaming. Any 18th century wargame army may be used to portray this struggle for colonial gains. Pirates fought as skirmishers who may be pitted against sailors, marines, and naval landing parties. Regular infantry skirmishers and rifles may appear in skirmish scenarios involving two of the major powers and their privateering allies operating in the Americas.

Miniatures

  • Pirate Captain & Officers, 25 mm OGP 1
  • Pirates with Cutlass, 25 mm OGP 2
  • Pirates with Firearms, 25 mm OGP 3
  • Pirates with Knives, 25 mm OGP 4
  • Pirate Long Boat & Crew, 25 mm OGP 5
  • The Bearded Treasure Party, 25 mm OGP 6
  • Pirate Artillery & Crew, 25 mm OGP 7
  • Pirate Galley (40 cm Hull), 25 mm OGP 8
  • Man of War, 25 mm OGP 9
  • Brigantine, 25 mm OGP 10
  • Swivel Guns with Crews, 25 mm OGP 11
  • Female Pirates, 25 mm OGP 12
  • Dead Pirates, 25 mm OGP 13
  • European Sailors, 25 mm OGP 14
  • European Captains, 25 mm OGP 15
  • Pirate Looters with Victims, 25 mm OGP 16
  • Captured Civilian Slaves, 25 mm OGP 17
  • Pirates gambling at Table, 25 mm OGP 18
  • Men climbing Rigging, 25 mm OGP 19
  • Fat Island Governors with creepy Assistants, 25 mm OGP 20
  • Governor’s mounted Guard, 25 mm OGP 21
  • Cannibal Warriors, 25 mm OGP 22
  • Cannibal Chieftain on Throne with Attendants, 25 mm OGP 23
  • Cannibal Canoe with Crew, 25 mm OGP 24
  • Captured Pirates with one poor Mate in Cooking Pot, 25 mm OGP 25
  • Cannibal Village (4 Huts), 25 mm OGP 26
  • Voodoo Warriors, 25 mm OGP 27
  • Village Mob, 25 mm OGP 28
  • European Artillery with Crew, 25 mm OGP 30
  • British Marines (early 18th Century), 25 mm OGP 31
  • English Pirates, 1:72 Orion 72001
  • Buccaneers, 1:72 Mars 72082
  • Unarmed Pirates, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-1
  • Armed Pirates, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-2
  • Pirates with Muskets, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-3
  • Pirate Gun Crew, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-4
  • Pirate Officers, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-5
  • Guns, medium (4), 15 mm Peter Pig 10-6
  • Pirates with Swivel Guns, Peter Pig 15 mm 10-7
  • Barrel Pile, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-8
  • Rowing Boat, large, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-9
  • Rowing Boat Crew, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-10
  • Government Musket Troops, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-11
  • Government Officers, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-12
  • Governor, Priest, and Bodyguards, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-13
  • Pirate Band, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-14
  • Natives with Spears, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-15
  • Native Command, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-16
  • Dead Pirates, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-17
  • Pirate Characters, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-18
  • Women, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-19
  • Corsair Command, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-20
  • Corsairs, armed, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-21
  • Corsair Gun Crew, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-22
  • Corsairs with Muskets, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-23
  • Pirates in Water with Sharks, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-24
  • Native Rowers, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-25
  • Government Gun Crew, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-26
  • Armed Mob, 15 mm Peter Pig 10-27

Bibliography

  • Defoe, Daniel: A General History of the Pyrates
  • Lapouge, Gilles: Pirates
  • Lapouge, Gilles: Pirates and Buccaneers

Historical Employment

  • Mary Read and Anne Bonny, sailed with Jack Rackham from 1710 to 1720.
  • Samuel Bellamy roamed the coast of the America Colonies from 1716 to 1717.
  • Blackbeard terrorized Caribbean seafarers from 1716, until he was killed in 1718.
  • Hundreds of American Privateer attacked British shipping during the American Revolution, 1775–1783. John Paul Jones’ daring and successful raids made him an American national hero. He is known as the Father of the American Navy.
  • Barbary Coast Pirates operating from the Mediterranean ports of Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli had been extorting large tribute payments from European seafaring nations for centuries. When US merchant ships were no longer protected by the British Navy after American Independence, the US Navy and Marines became involved in the 1801 to 1805, and 1815 Barbary Wars which put an end to Barbary Coast piracy.

Possible Conversions

  • 18th Century Pirates may be used as sailors, and vice versa.

Related Films

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush
  • Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush
  • Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, starring Geena Davis, Matthew Modine

18th Century Pirates offer a fascinating diversion to large scale 18th Century wargames at a fraction of the cost. Regular troops may be supplemented by pirates and privateers to portray troops defending a colonial outpost somewhere in the Americas.

18th Century Miniatures