Other tall ships available during the 1990s are Sea Cloud (ex-USCGC Sea Cloud, ex-Hussar V) and SV Mandalay (ex-Hussar IV). Both ships began their lives as private yachts of E. F. Hutton of the financial services company, served in the USCG during World War Two, end ended up as cruising ships in the 70s and 80s, respectively. They are fitted for 60-80 passengers each, although Mandalay is significantly smaller (585 GRT compared to 3,077 ts), and make 14 kn (Sea Cloud) and 16 kn (Mandalay) respectively, presumably under combined propulsion.
A couple of light guns could be installed on their main decks and in fact medium artillery guns of (3"/50 DP) had been in use on Sea Cloud during World War Two. When it comes to supporting a marine complement, the two smaller ships fare far worse than Club Med 1 and 2, though: only two light davits, no (pseudo-)well deck and no larger deck space for containers, vehicles or additional barges or speed boats.
But hey, I bet the Caribbean, Polynesia and the African West Coast would tremble with fear if some of these ships with a combined marine battalion would start raiding the area.
What a great setting for a campaign.
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Liber et infractus
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