Until the threat of piracy subsided in the 19th century, it was normal practice to arm larger merchant ships such as galleons. Until the 17th century it was common for merchant ships to be pressed into naval service and not unusual for more than half a fleet to be composed of merchant ships.

In war, merchant ships are often armed and used as auxiliary warships, such as the Q-ships of the First World War and the armed merchant cruisers of the Second World War. In wartime, the distinction between warships and merchant ships is often blurred. Warships usually belong to a navy, though they have also been operated by individuals, cooperatives and corporations. Unlike a merchant ship, which carries cargo, a warship typically carries only weapons, ammunition and supplies for its crew. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are typically faster and more maneuverable than merchant ships. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. The Cannon Shot (1670) by Willem van de Velde the Younger, showing a late Dutch 17th-century ship of the lineĪ warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. JSTOR ( August 2016) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

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Ships in world of warships