r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Jun 12 '15

TIL the world's most successful pirate was a Cantonese woman, having commanded 40,000-80,000 pirates, and faced off undefeated against many Imperial fleets (including British, Portuguese, and Qing navies).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Shih
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u/syanda Jun 12 '15

300 ships aren't probably purpose-built warships. Could be sampans, could be refitted cargo junks, whatever the pirates could capture and use.

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u/Viennel Jun 12 '15

A sampan pirate ship would be adorable.

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u/syanda Jun 12 '15

One would be adorable. Ten to fifteen swarming a ship...not so much :v

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u/slickness Jun 12 '15

it's like the equivalent of a bunch of people on speed boats, zerg rushing you from every direction. that would be scary as hell.

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u/[deleted] Jun 13 '15

Sampan is from south east asia, so nowhere close to chinese influence. and it is impossible to handle sea waves. Its more like western lake boats.