1. 单桅纵帆船

由于帆的数量和船身大小的关系，商用单桅纵帆船的速度非常快，但由于他们较小的体积限制了他们不能携带大量的货物。所以它们经常被用来运送想黄金珠宝这样的小件的贵重物品。因为只有仅仅10门左右的加农炮，商用单桅纵帆船在游戏中的防御性比较差，所以应该避免和强大的船只对抗。正常情况下，单桅纵帆船应当利用他们机动灵活的特点快速的从敌人大型船只附近逃脱。由于其低廉的价格，它是玩家开局时很好的选择。

Because of the enormous amount of sail related to the ships size, merchant sloops were very fast, but due to their small size they couldn't take large amounts of cargo. So they were mostly used for carrying small precious items, like gold or diamonds. With just over 10 cannons, the merchant sloops in East India Company are lightly armed for defence against minor, so they should avoid a confrontation with serious enemies. In a thight situation, a sloop should try to outrun its enemy, using the ability to outmanoeuvre large vessels. Due to their cheap price, they are good ships to start with.

2.双桅纵帆船

双桅纵帆船的高船速决定了它很适合贸易和探索。特别是其数量众多的时候它们拥有足够多的轻型火炮来威胁贸易船队。这使得他们很适合海上劫掠活动并且很多海盗都有它组成小型舰队来快速袭击缺乏护卫的商船。

Schooners are fast ships that are well suited for trading and scouting. They have enough light cannons to be a threat to merchant ships, especially in large numbers. This makes them suitable for piracy and many pirates employ them as small fleets, quickly attacking lone cargo ships without escort.

3.军用快船

军用快船是最小的军舰。它的轻火力能在大型军舰上造成的伤害是微乎其微的。所有应避免和全副武装的商队接近。快速是它最大的优势，军用快船在搜索和对抗双桅纵帆船以及小型三桅船方面表现出色，所以它们经常成为海盗头子的首选。

Naval Cutters were the smallest warships. With their light cannons, the damage they could inflict on larger warships was minimal. Close contact with more heavily armed transports should be avoided. Their great speed was often their best advantage. Cutters were good vessels for scouting and competing against ships like Schooners or Xebecs that were often captained by pirates.

4.横帆双桅船

横帆双桅船是既可以做军舰又可以用来运输的多用途船只。他们在战斗中拥有良好的机动性以及轻巧的船身，但应该避免与护卫舰甚至是东印度商船直接对抗。作为商船，横帆双桅船有中等的货舱空间和与其相当快速，但它需要大量的船员来操纵。

Brigs are versatile ship that can be used as warships or transports. They are quite maneuverable and agile ships in battle but should not engage on one-on-one battles with frigate or even East Indiaman. As cargo ships, brigs have moderate cargo space and are relatively fast. They do require large crew to operate them.

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5.弗鲁特商船

长笛，也被称为弗鲁特商船，是一种产于尼德兰联邦的商船。荷兰东印度公司大量的使用弗鲁特商船的同时，其他国家也有使用。这是一种非常适合航行的船只，能够在公海经受长期的航行。弗鲁特商船配备有中型火炮，但和战舰相比它还不是对手，所以应避免海战。

Flute, also known as Fluyt, is transport ship originating from the Netherlands. Dutch East India Company uses flutes in large numbers, but other nations have adopted it too. It is very seaworthy vessel, easily capable of enduring the long voyages on high seas. Flute has medium cannons, but it is no match for warships and should avoid combat.

6.小型三桅船

小型三桅船，拥有独特的优雅外观，是一种良好的多用途的综合型船只。它们略小于护卫舰并且并不是全副武装的。历史上它们常被作为海盗船只并且频繁的在地中海一带活动。它具有良好的机动性，并且由于它的高航速使得慢速船只经常成为它的猎物。小型三桅船同样可以用来作为商船。

Xebec, with it's distinctive graceful look, is good all-around ship that can be used in multiple roles. They are usually slightly smaller than frigates and are not as heavily armed either. Xebecs have a history of being corsair ships and they were often seen in the Mediterranean. Their high speed gives them advantage over their slower moving prey and they also have good maneuverability. Xebecs are also quite well-suited for being merchant vessels.

7.西班牙大型帆船

西班牙大型帆船，盖伦，是装备精良的战船，同时可以装载大批货物。它们最为人熟知的是在加勒比海域为西班牙宝藏船队使用，但是在东印度地区的贸易中也被所有的国家使用。盖伦最初是在16世纪发展起来的，但在18世纪，由于东印度商船和战列舰的兴起，使它变得多少有些过时了。

Galleon is well-armed warship also capable of taking aboard large amounts of cargo. They are most well-known for their role in the Spanish treasure fleet in the Caribbean, but are no less usable in the East Indian trade and all nations employ them. Galleons were originally developed during 16th century. During 18th century they will become somewhat obsolete because ship types like East Indiaman and Ship of the Line.

8.东印度商船

基于到印度漫长而艰辛的航行经验，东印度商船被设计出来。这种级别是当时吨位最大的商船，排水量1100至1400吨。从1602年到18世纪末，至少1461艘此型船只被用来从中国和亚洲，运送香料和茶叶等到欧洲。东印度商船不仅仅被设计用来贸易，他们也有足够的武器来保护自己。