Opinions expressed here are personal views of contributors and do not necessarily represent the companies, organizations or governments they work for. Nor do they necessarily represent those of the Board Administration.
https://tboverse.com/
In the UK at least, the major customers of prize courts were RN crews who were paid for capturing enemy ships. Interestingly, one eighth of the prize money would go to the person signing the orders that sent the ship out - assuming the US had the same rules coped from the UK then this would presumably go to President Trump or Secretary Hegseth?Belushi TD wrote: ↑Thu Aug 27, 2026 12:14 pmI understand that what they're talking about is the adjudication of seizures under a different set of laws, but I thought prize courts were included under the banning of privateering.
MikeThe Odenwald Incident
The Date: November 6, 1941.
The Event: The light cruiser USS Omaha and the destroyer USS Somers intercepted the German blockade runner Odenwald in the mid-Atlantic.
The Action: The German crew tried to scuttle the ship and fled in lifeboats. A boarding party from the Omaha managed to save the ship, stop the flooding, and sail it to Puerto Rico.
The Payout Boarding Party: An admiralty court ruled in 1947 that members of the boarding party and prize crew received $3,000 each.
Other Crewmen: Remaining crew members on the Omaha and Somers were awarded two months' pay and allowances.
Historical Significance: This case stands as the final time the U.S. Navy paid out prize or salvage money to sailors for capturing an enemy vessel.
