What if HMS Warrior and her doctor appear in front of Edward Teach and replace Queen Anne's Revenge?
Short answerTeach becomes unbeatable in a fleet action, so authorities must ambush him ashore or seize Warrior indirectly.
NotesHMS Warrior's armor, guns, and sailing capability would make her maintainable enough to operate in Edward Teach's era. Contemporary ships, including first rates, could not defeat her in a direct engagement. Her prizes could finance continued operation even without a modern industrial support system. The practical response would be an asymmetric campaign that waited for Teach ashore and attacked his bases or captured the ship when its technological advantage could not be used.