U.S. Commodore Perry’s “Black Ships” force the opening (sort of) of Japan to the West.
Perry sailed into Uraga, Japan harbor in 1853. His superior force enabled him to force Japan to open trade with the USA (as opposed to primarily with just Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese groups).
Perry’s older ships – the Mississippi, Plymouth, Saratoga and Susquehana – had black sails, presumably to mask the black smoke stains from billowing black smoke from their on–board coal fired power plants.