Raniets

if there were any pirates packing warships, like real millitary grade warships.. it would have to be privateers (as they basicly were mercenaries). privateers would run full crews, for actually taking(as in taking a price ship, and this required a full crew about the same as a normal warship) or looting ships (mostly merchants) but also enough firepower to take out escort ships, or smaller/single warships. the true pirate, like the pirate pirate, would use mostly very small ships, just enough firepower to take out sails and such, and fast enough stay way clear of anything that was millitary. afterall, military ships were not worth very much compared to the risk for your average pirate. for privateers the military ships were worth more as a price ship.