The Grappling Hook is a tool and an improvised weapon. It was the Close-Range weapon of the Somali Pirate.
Description[]
A Somali Pirate with a Grappling hook.
The grappling hook is shaped like an anchor with three to five prongs, which is attached to a rope.
Stats[]
- 25 foot rope
- 2 foot hook
- 5 lbs
- Barbed steel
Use[]
Grappling hooks have existed since the bronze age. Historically, grappling hooks have been widely used by many naval forces to catch on to an enemy ship so that it could be boarded. It could also serve as an improvised weapon by using the hooks to rip into an enemy while using the central shaft as a handle, due to the long rope, the grappling hook could also be swung at the enemy. Pirates (both classical and modern) frequently used hooks.
Somali Pirates would have knots on their hooks to climb up it like a rope. This was necessary; since most boats that the Somalis raided were massively taller than their skiff speedboats. Ladders are also used to board ships.