Privateer

[Ithekro]

Best guess the Swiss privateers would be after Firanj, Egypt, and any Brandenburg and Middle Kingdom shipping they could find.  Hapsburg maybe, but I don't know what relations are like with the Iberian situation cooling.

[swamphen]

Brandenburg may or may not be blockadeable depending on their civilian needs.

Well, Brandenburg does import the vast majority of its rubber...

There's also DEI oil, although there is some domestic production on Greater Brandenburg.

The Reich retains (so far) the right to issue Letters of Marque, although it has not done so approximatly 1885 (the last LoM was, of course, authorised against France). The Admiralstab does not see any further LoMs being issued, with the new 'kaufmannjägers' planned starting 1911...

[Desertfox]

How many? Where?
Borys

Dont know, havent really given that much thought as I haven't needed them yet. However I do have the SS2 plans for them. The main privateer right now is Captain Sparrow. He is working with the SSS and does some private 'work' too. Swiss pirates and privateers prey mainly on Farijistan, Egyptian, Chinese and some Austrian shipping. If they start attacking other ships they are considered rouge and are hunted down. 'Tortugas' Island can be considered a privateer base, funded by the SSS budget.

[Phoenix]

The Middle Kingdom stance on privateering is simple: a privateer is a pirate under a different name and every pirate will be executed when apprehended.

[Walter]

Executed when apprehended?! The Middle Kingdom shows way too much mercy toward such vermin by ending their lives so swiftly. They're too kind.

[Carthaginian]

The Middle Kingdom stance on privateering is simple: a privateer is a pirate under a different name and every pirate will be executed when apprehended.

Perhaps the Middle Kingdom should consider that any ship possessing an official Letter of Marquis is officially considered a mercenary under the employ of the issuing nation, and therefore a de facto combatant of the issuing nation. Attacking a privateer as a pirate is thus taking hostile action against that nation's military, and is under traditional conventions an act of war equitable to firing on a purpose-built warship of the same nation.

Might the Middle Kingdom be persuaded to change their stance on this issue slightly, perhaps to state that any privateer not actively engaged against the great Middle Kingdom or her allies be considered as not being a threat?

We do not wish to appear to be dictating policy on how the Middle Kingdom should defend itself against those that threaten it's greatness with open hostility- but perhaps some distinction should be made between corsairs of non-belligerents and those of belligerents.

[miketr]

The stance of the Empire of Iberia is as follows.

If Iberia choose to issue Letter of Marque and Reprisal the ship and crew in question will be de jure  members our armed forces and we expected them to be treated as such.  Our stance is reciprocal in nature, if we are at war with a nation and that nation chooses to kill out of hand members of our military then they can expect no quarter from Iberia.  No legalism or other evasions will be accepted.  In the event our captured military personal are treated honorably and correctly we will do the same.

At the same Iberia will not tolerate our flag to be used as a cover for murder, rapen and pillage.  Such offenses are capital in nature and any resonable will be dealt with.

The above said the Empire of Iberia believes that the day of the Letter of Marque and Reprisal has passed us all by.

[khymerion]

The Baltic Confederation is very much on the stance of the need for a privateer is unjustified in the modern age.  Surface combat should remain in the realm of the professional militaries.  The existance of such private combatants might lead to greater acts of treachery and deceit.  The existance of armed warships disguised as merchantmen might come into existance and cost a professional military warship lives or the ship itself, thus bringing into question if all merchantment might be so armed and disguised.  Those nations sanctioning letters of Marque and Reprisal, during times of war or in an area where enemies of the Confederation might be operating, will have merchant and civilian ships flying the flag of said nation view as hostile warships and thus be fired upon without warning nor will survivors be taken upon after a single disguised warsip or privateer is used against Confederation naval forces... as the risk to Confederation personel will be too great.

[Carthaginian]

The Baltic Confederation is very much on the stance of the need for a privateer is unjustified in the modern age.  Surface combat should remain in the realm of the professional militaries.  The existance of such private combatants might lead to greater acts of treachery and deceit.  The existance of armed warships disguised as merchantmen might come into existance and cost a professional military warship lives or the ship itself, thus bringing into question if all merchantment might be so armed and disguised.  Those nations sanctioning letters of Marque and Reprisal, during times of war or in an area where enemies of the Confederation might be operating, will have merchant and civilian ships flying the flag of said nation view as hostile warships and thus be fired upon without warning nor will survivors be taken upon after a single disguised warsip or privateer is used against Confederation naval forces... as the risk to Confederation personel will be too great.

This as opposed to an Armed Merchant Cruiser, using the same tactics, being a legal method of combat?

Or shall these be ruled out as well?

[Borys]

Ahoj!
An AMC is a combatant. It flies the Navy Ensign and has visible weapons.
A merchant flies the merchant Ensign and has no guns.

Simple?

When a warship encounters a hostile AMC it blasts away.
When a warship encounters a hostile merchant it fires a warning shot across the bow demanding it to stop.

Simple?
Borys

[Korpen]

In short, the position of the Netherlands on Letter of Marque (kaperbrief) is that they do not exist.
So if i ship claims to have them or not does not affect the treatment of the vessel and its crew one way or the other.

[Carthaginian]

Ahoj!
An AMC is a combatant. It flies the Navy Ensign and has visible weapons.
A merchant flies the merchant Ensign and has no guns.

Simple?

When a warship encounters a hostile AMC it blasts away.
When a warship encounters a hostile merchant it fires a warning shot across the bow demanding it to stop.

Simple?
Borys

AMC's, especially those of the German Hochseeflote, didn't fly their national ensign until they prepared to open fire, neither did the Confederate corsairs. They would approach their target under merchant colors- often those of a different nation, and often with their ship roughly disguised. Only when they readied for battle would they fly their navy jacks and 'run out' their guns. At that point, it was up to their target to either fight it out, or surrender.

Because if this, the Confederate States of America will forever see the two operating procedures of both types of ships as so similar as to make no matter, and thus it's stance for supporting corsairs.


OoC: Just wanted to make it know why I have the stance I do on this subject. ;)

[Borys]

AMC's, especially those of the German Hochseeflote, didn't fly their national ensign until they prepared to open fire, neither did the Confederate corsairs. They would approach their target under merchant colors- often those of a different nation, and often with their ship roughly disguised. Only when they readied for battle would they fly their navy jacks and 'run out' their guns. At that point, it was up to their target to either fight it out, or surrender.

OOC: IMO under the Hague this would be piracy. But must read more on subject.

Borys

[Ithekro]

What's the point of commerce raiding if they can see you coming?  At least for ships that aren't obviously warships (Bismark) or a warship disguised as a foreign power's warship.

[khymerion]

Ithekro...  that is the point.  But, if we have disguised commerce raiders...  I don't want to hear too many screams in terror once a few torpedoes come out of nowhere in the open waters.  After all... all is fair once the gloves come off, right?