It's a time distortion i tell you! If it takes place between the 1st movie and the 2nd movie, why does Elizabeth Swan make an appearence as one of the nine rouges/pirate lords? She becomes one in the third movie. Before the 1st movie seems a bit stiff for me. If it was before the 1st movie, we would have to be recapturing the Black Pearl from Barbossa, not the Navy! it's a time distortion i tell you!
Run! Run while you can!!