Xebec

By Crusader1307

Seen in The Mediterranean from the 15th to 17th Centuries, Xebec's were used for Commerce. Along the same design style as a small Frigate, they were popular with regional Pirates for their speed. Often armed with multiple cannon (as many as 20 in some cases - ranging between 5 and 10-pounders), they displaced around 200 tons. Various designs incorporated 2 to 4 Masts. The French Navy incorporated The Xebec design into it's inventory when they operated in The Mediterranean. Slightly redesigned in the 18th to 19th Centuries to include a Bowsprit and Headsails, they were then termed as “Xebec-Frigates”. The most well known Xebec-Frigate was The HMS “Speedy”, which crewed 50 odd men and sported 14 guns.