Caravel

Caravels are small ships, generally used for trade. They are often the mainstay of smaller fleets, since they are relatively cheap to build, can transport small groups of men, and when not otherwise occupied can turn a profit by trade. However they are fairly slow, being unable to outrun the larger frigates and are on par with the the massive man-of-wars, and are unable to mount offensive armament; caravels must rely on what its crew and passengers can personally bring to bear. Because of their inexpensiveness, caravels are often used for coastal interdiction and are favored by pirates.