Volunteer navy
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A navy of vessels fitted out and manned by volunteers who sailunder the flag of the regular navy and subject to naval discipline.Prussia in 1870, in the Franco-German war, organized such a navy,which was commanded by merchant seamen with temporary commissions,with the claim (in which England acquiesced) that it did not comewithin the meaning of the term privateer.
Volunteer navy meaning & definition 1 of Volunteer navy.