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"Oh, the Dauntless is the power in these waters, true enough, but there's no ship as can match the Interceptor for speed."
Murtogg to Jack Sparrow[src]

The HMS Interceptor was a brig in the British Royal Navy serving under King George II, most notably under the command of Captain, later Commodore, James Norrington. As a ship in the British fleet, the Interceptor was purported to be the fastest vessel commissioned to His Majesty's service. Many believed it to be the fastest in the Caribbean, but this view was only held by those who either had never heard of or did not believe in the Black Pearl.

With the Interceptor as his flagship, Norrington had chased and captured some of the Caribbean's most fearsome pirates. The ship would be docked at Port Royal, until Elizabeth Swann, daughter of Governor Weatherby Swann, was kidnapped by Hector Barbossa's crew of the Black Pearl. Elizabeth's childhood friend, Will Turner, joined forces with Jack Sparrow to commandeer the Interceptor from Commodore Norrington, in a gallant attempt to rescue her. Throughout the voyage, they sailed to Tortuga, where the duo recruited a ragtag crew, and through a storm to reach the island of dead known as Isla de Muerta. After a battle with the Black Pearl, the Interceptor was destroyed.

History[]

Early use[]

It is unknown when the Interceptor was built, but she would eventually serve the British Royal Navy as the fastest vessel commissioned into King George II's fleet. The Interceptor was captained by James Norrington. Under Captain Norrington's command, the Interceptor proved perfect for chasing and capturing the most fearsome pirates in Caribbean waters.[1] The Interceptor would be stationed in the British settlement of Port Royal, Jamaica. When Norrington was promoted to commodore, the Interceptor remained under his command as his flagship, despite the HMS Dauntless being the power of the waters.[2]

Commandeering[]

"We are to fire on our own ship, sir?"
"I'd rather see her at the bottom of the ocean than in the hands of a pirate.
"
Theodore Groves and James Norrington[src]
Murtogg Mullroy Guarding Interceptor COTBP

Mullroy and Murtogg aboard the Interceptor.

Located at the docks of Port Royal, the Interceptor was guarded by two members of Captain James Norrington's Royal Marines, Mullroy and Murtogg, while Norrington himself was promoted as commodore. When Jack Sparrow arrived, in the market of a new ship, he attempted to make the Interceptor his own ship by distracting the two redcoats into an argument over the existence of the long-feared Black Pearl. Unfortunately for Sparrow, it wasn't a success, resulting in his imprisonment within Fort Charles prison.[2]

The day following Sparrow's capture and the attack on Port Royal, Will Turner was able to convince Jack Sparrow to help him rescue Elizabeth Swann from Captain Hector Barbossa and his cursed crew. Though to achieve this plan, Sparrow had Turner join him in commandeering the HMS Interceptor. After staging a diversion by seemingly attempting to capture the HMS Dauntless, the two prepared their next move. Officer Groves notified Commodore Norrington of this development as Norrington's men were loading the Interceptor. Back aboard the Dauntless, Jack turned and glanced over his shoulder to see his plan was working as Norrington was dropping the sails on the Interceptor and preparing for pursuit. With Norrington's men occupied upon boarding the Dauntless, Jack and Will quickly boarded the Interceptor and set sail before Norrington's marines could return aboard the Interceptor. Commodore Norrington then gave officer Groves the order to ready the long-nines to sink the Interceptor. However, Norrington's order hasn't been executed as the rudder chain of the Dauntless was disabled by Jack and Will, to ensure they were not followed.[2]

Journey to Isla de Muerta[]

"We should drop canvas, sir."
"She can hold a bit longer."
"What's in your head that's put you in such a fine mood, captain?"
"We're catching up.
"
Joshamee Gibbs and Jack Sparrow[src]
CotBPInterceptorsailsinthunderstorm

The Interceptor sailing through a thunderstorm.

Jack and Will arrived at Tortuga, where they met with Joshamee Gibbs, who assembled a crew to man the Interceptor. Jack inspected the crew before accepting them into his crew, which ended with Jack having an interesting reunion with one of his former lovers, an angry Anamaria. In order to placate her, Jack was forced to agree to give Anamaria the Interceptor, in exchange for her old boat, which Jack had stolen before. In the meantime, Jack remained in command for the venture.[2]

At some point during the journey, the Interceptor encountered the British merchant vessel Earl King, captained by McGlue. Jack and Will disguised as Royal Navy officers and boarded the King, but Captain McGlue realized that they're pirates. The crew of the Interceptor boarded the King, captured the entire crew, and looted the ship.[3]

Using his compass, Jack sailed the Interceptor through a horrible thunderstorm. And with the Interceptor's speed, they caught up with the Black Pearl at Isla de Muerta.[2]

Destruction[]

"This is the fastest ship in the Caribbean!"
"You can tell them that after they've caught us!
"
Elizabeth Swann and Anamaria[src]
The Intercepter moments before its destruction

The Interceptor seconds before its destruction.

Later, after Elizabeth's rescue, Anamaria and the absent Jack's crew attempted to outrun the Black Pearl. The crew tried to make it to nearby shoals due to having a shallower draught than the Black Pearl, and so began tossing anything which wasn't necessary overboard, including heavy cargo and ammunition. Unfortunately for the crew, their pursuers used the Pearl's sweeps to gain on the Interceptor. Instead, the crew opted to fight and loaded everything remaining into the guns, including silverware. To gain surprise the crew dropped the starboard anchor as the Pearl approached, causing the brig to swing out. Had the Pearl's crew been mortal pirates, the Interceptor's cannons would have killed many as they fired improvised grapeshot. However, the vessel was boarded by the cursed pirates, and, after a fierce battle in which the Interceptor's mast was cut down, the crew was captured.[2]

Held aboard the Pearl, the crew looked on helplessly as the Interceptor was destroyed.[2]

Design and appearance[]

"Commodore Norrington's made it his flagship. He'll use it to hunt down the last dregs of piracy on the Spanish Main."
Mullroy[src]

The HMS Interceptor was a sleek two-masted brig purported to be the fastest vessel commissioned to His Majesty's service in the British Royal Navy fleet.[4] Flying the Blue Ensign from the peak of the gaff and the Navy pennant from the masthead, the Interceptor was a commissioned Royal Navy vessel serving as the flagship of Captain, later Commodore, James Norrington.[5] Under Norrington's command, the Interceptor had chased and captured some of the Caribbean's most fearsome pirates. The Interceptor was armed with cannons on two decks and had several swivel guns. Thanks to her fine lines, the Interceptor was fast and could turn quickly, but she was no match for the Black Pearl.[1]

In addition to her speed, the Interceptor carried 16 cannons and 2 swivel guns. Along with her marines, this armament made the brig a match for the majority of pirate vessels, normally small sloops, brigs or schooners. Unlike most ships of her size, the Interceptor had a raised quarterdeck which housed four of her guns, two swivel guns, and the helm. The raised quarterdeck allowed six of the ship's guns to be housed in an enclosed gundeck about the same level as the remaining guns of the brig's forecastle. Most small vessels such as brigs were not tall enough to have enclosed gundecks.

Behind the scenes[]

Wiki
The Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki has a collection of images and media related to HMS Interceptor.

Appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

Crew of the HMS Interceptor

Captain: Commodore James Norrington
HMS Interceptor
Theodore GrovesSteersman


Captain: Jack Sparrow
HMS Interceptor
AnamariaCottonCotton's parrotCrimpDuncanJoshamee GibbsKursarLadbroc
MartyMatelotMoisesQuartettoElizabeth SwannTearlachWilliam Turner
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Pirate ships in Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirate ships
AdventureBlack BarnacleBlack Bart's shipBlack DogBlack HarbingerBlack PearlBlack Pearl (frigate)BuzzardCenturionChing's flagshipCobraCursed crew's pirate shipCutlassDeath OmenDolphinDragonDying GullEmpressFancyFortuneFuchuanGhostly SeadogGretchenGrim ReaperHai PengHanyu PinyinHarkawayHMS InterceptorJack Sparrow's sloopJack Sparrow's corvetteJack Sparrow's galleonJack Sparrow's bilanderKing George's AmnestyKin Tai FongKirbacKoldunyaLa Fleur de la MortLa Vipère Misty LadyMonkeebuttNemesisNeptuneNingpoOtterParadoxPearlPhantomPirate galleonPrincessQueen Anne's RevengeRangerRed DragonRevenantRevengeRoyal FortuneRuddy RoseSatisfactionSea NymphSerefSiren's RevengeSongSparrowStorm ReaperSwiftTroubadourVenganzaVictoryWicked Wench
[edit]


British Royal Navy ships in Pirates of the Caribbean
Royal Navy ships
AlbionHMS AchillesHMS AdventureArabellaBattle-RoyaleBastionBeletteHMS BlazerBritish galleonBritish warshipBulwarkCenturionHMS CenturyColossusHMS CometHMS DauntlessHMS DiamondDreadnoughtEliteHMS EndeavourEn-GardeEssexFerretGoliathGreyhoundHMS HoundHMS HyenaHMS InterceptorHMS InvincibleJack Sparrow's corvetteKingfisherLawrence Norrington's shipMan O' WarMonarchHMS NewcastlePantherHMS PeregrinePerseveranceHMS PhoenixPredatorPride of LondonHMS ProvidenceHMS RavenHMS ResistanceHMS RoseHMS SuccessTally-hoHMS TrepasseyVanguardHMS VictorHMS Victory
[edit]
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