Indiaman (ETW Unit)

Indiaman (ETW Unit)
Class	Trade Ship
Unit Size	54
Weaponry	12
Morale
Melee Attack
Ranged Attack
Defence
Charge Bonus
Accuracy
Range
Ammunition
Region	Global
Recruitment Cost	600
Upkeep Cost	50
Turns to Build
Unit Limit
Building Requirements	Trading Port
Technology Requirements	None
Attributes

The Indiaman is an armed merchant ship, strongly built for the trade routes between Europe and the East. It is not a warship, but can defend itself in need.

Overview

The Indiaman is a three-masted, square-rigged sailing ship of some 1000 tons displacement. Although work for the relatively small crew is hard, there are compensations: they can trade goods in their own right, and make excellent profits by doing so.

Unusually for a merchant ship, an Indiaman carries cargo, passengers, and a good number of guns. Intended to sail from Europe to the other side of the world and back carrying valuable – sometimes priceless – cargoes, these ships have to be able to defend themselves. The passengers expect some creature comforts, being both officers of the owning trade companies and assorted “gentlemen” seeking their fortunes in foreign parts.

Historically, East Indiamen resembled ships of the line, both in their general configuration and paintwork. At the Battle of Pulo Aura (1804), the ambiguous appearance and aggressive handling of a squadron of British Indiamen completely humbugged the French admiral, Charles-Alexandre Linois. He withdrew in the face of “superior” forces. Commodore Nathaniel Dance, of the British Company fleet, received a knighthood and a handsome reward for his cunning.

National navies purchased Indiamen and converted them into troopships or warships.

Details

Indiamen are capable of protecting themselves against smaller vessels. However, against larger vessels, Indiamen are at a severe disadvantage. They hold a slight speed bonus against larger ships, but their small armament makes it difficult for them to effectively offer a good fight. They are best suited to supporting other, larger units, which offer protection to the Indiamen.