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C.R. Pennell, "Tripoli in The Mid-Eighteenth Century: A Guidebook To The City," Revue D'histoire Maghrébine (Tunis) 25-26 (1982) : 91-121

The document summarizes the maritime forces and cruising tactics of Tripoli in the mid-18th century. The Bashaw had 3 small warships called shebecs armed with 12-20 guns each, and 12-14 row galleys with 30-50 men aboard. The row galleys were more maneuverable than the shebecs and could operate closer to shore. Cruisers would typically set sail from Tripoli and follow coastal routes while preying on ships from countries not allied with Tripoli over the course of about a month. The Bashaw encouraged attacks on ships from neutral countries in hopes of gaining wealth from captures.

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Richard Pennell
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167 views32 pages

C.R. Pennell, "Tripoli in The Mid-Eighteenth Century: A Guidebook To The City," Revue D'histoire Maghrébine (Tunis) 25-26 (1982) : 91-121

The document summarizes the maritime forces and cruising tactics of Tripoli in the mid-18th century. The Bashaw had 3 small warships called shebecs armed with 12-20 guns each, and 12-14 row galleys with 30-50 men aboard. The row galleys were more maneuverable than the shebecs and could operate closer to shore. Cruisers would typically set sail from Tripoli and follow coastal routes while preying on ships from countries not allied with Tripoli over the course of about a month. The Bashaw encouraged attacks on ships from neutral countries in hopes of gaining wealth from captures.

Uploaded by

Richard Pennell
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tripoli in the Mid Eighteenth Century 111

Caydas in the country, and fight on foot. And the Arnauts are intended
both for his guard in town and .as marine on board his cn.1isers. As for
sailors, they are all Moors and volunteers, have no pay but share of the
prizes they take, and are maintained while out on CIUise. On board the
row galleys are all volunteers except the Rais, serve as sailors and marine
at the same time.

Maritime FOrce8

Shebecs
The Bashaw, in the year 1765, had only three shebecs from 12 to 2tl
guns, and twelve or fourteen row galleys, with 2 or 4 Pattoreracs and from
thirty to fiifty men on board each of these row galleys.

Row galleys

These row galleys are of infinite more service to the Bashaw than an
equal number of great ships or shebecs, for as they are fur for sailing
and rowing they can manage better than the shebecs. For want of the
knowledge of sailing and pointing the great guns, they now more apply
themselves, or venture on board the row galleys where, without making
use of any artillery, they go up close quarters with sword in hand. If
they meet ships of war, row galleys can better make off than their she-
bees, and will never stand battle as they are sure [if they engage with the
enemy's shebecs of equal or less force] to be taken or sunk. These row
gal!eys are so small that they can put in anywhwere for sheiter. They can
discover ships at a great distance, and surprise them close before the
trading vessel can be aware of its enemy.
From Tripoli [on their setting out for a Guise] with a fair wind they
steer direct for the island of Malta. If they miss it, pass over to the coa.;t
of Sicily, from thence proceed along the coast of Calabria, cross (?) the
Gulf of Venice and the Archipelago, come down along the Asian coast to
Alexandria .and home, always keeping within reach of land. If they meet
with nothing in their way they generally perform this expedition within
the space of a month or forty days .
• The Bashaw being at peace with the principal Christian trading
nations, and his cruisers having no other ships to aim at but Neapolitan,
Genoese and Maltese, makes their lawful prizes scarce. Hence it is not
so much to be wondered that his cruisers at times invest the seas and
pilfer or commit outrages on ships of nations at peace with them, and I
am apt to think the government itself encourages and privately approves
of such behaviour of their Rays : Jhey know that in case they were obliged
to make restitution there always remains something in their hands and
gain by. They are likewise of opinion that those powers whom they must
fear would hardly declare_ ware against them on every trivial occasion.
Others whom they think unable to do themselves justice they make over-
look such like offences as often as th(ey) can.
Should this misbehaviour of the cruisers of this state ever draw war
upo-n them, the Bashaw (is ?) sure, upon the whole, if not a gainer to be
no great looser, and I can clear prove how inconsiderable the losses of a
few of... (tear) beggarly corsairs are, when balanced with the booty and
riches they get by taking and plundering merchant ships. For instance,
the fitting out of one of his row galleys does not cost him above ten

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