The ships were called privateers. The authorisations were called letters of marque.
privateer
they were called privateers
They Were Armed Private Ships With Private Captians set out to battle the british...they committed robbery also,but for slightly different reasons.They operate with permission and direction of a particular nation,to represent them during wartime and to attack certain ships in certain areas.
A group of ships armed for war
An armada . Another answer: A group of ships together for protection is called a convoy. An armada is specific to armed war ships preparing to attack.
It's called an armed merchantman.
I presume you mean armed ships disguised to look harmless. Such ships used by the British in World War I were known as Q ships. Those used by the German Navy in World War II were known as "Auxiliary cruisers" -- I think the German word is "Hilfskreuzer".
Armed merchantmen.
Privateer
privateer
22 Galleons and 108 armed merchant ships