18 USC § 1655 - Assault on commander as piracy

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1655"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1655 - Assault on commander as piracy"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1655"
section_name: "Assault on commander as piracy"
chapter_number: 81
chapter_name: "PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774.)"
---


# § 1655. Assault on commander as piracy

Whoever, being a seaman, lays violent hands upon his commander, to hinder and prevent his fighting in defense of his vessel or the goods intrusted to him, is a pirate, and shall be imprisoned for life.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 485 (, ).

A minor verbal change was made.