Commerce raiding

The Bermuda Gazette of 12 November 1796, calling for privateering against the Spanish Empire and its allies, and with advertisements for crew for two privateer vessels

Commerce raiding is a form of naval warfare used to destroy or disrupt logistics of the enemy on the open sea by attacking its merchant shipping, rather than engaging its combatants or enforcing a blockade against them. Privateering is a form of commerce raiding conducted by independent operators.