Galleys are warships used in Europe until the 18th century. A distinctive feature of such vessels is one row of oars and 2-3 masts with straight and triangular sails, serving as a tool for the auxiliary mover. The galley rower could be either a civilian employee or a slave or criminal. From this article you will learn what galleys are and what key parameters they possessed.
general characteristics
So, galleys are sailing-rowing military vessels that were first used in the Mediterranean basin, and then became widespread throughout Europe. In a broader sense, this term can be called all sailing-rowing warships of a similar design, known since ancient times.
Such ships were actively used by the Phoenicians, Mycenaean and Archaic Greeks, Minoans and many other peoples of those times. The word "galley" itself came from the Greek word galea, which was named one of the types of the Byzantine warship.
Kinds
According to the configuration of the galley body, there were such types:
- Zenzels. Classic narrow ships, characterized by good maneuverability and speed.
- Bastards. Wide ships with round stern. They had less speed and maneuverability, but they could contain much more cargo and weapons.
By the number of cans (movable seats) of the rowers were distinguished:
- Fusty - 18-22.
- Galliots - 14-20.
- Brigantines - 8-12.
Running parameters
Greco-Roman ship (galley) could accelerate to 9 knots. He developed high speed only in battle at short distances. These ships had a light hull, Spartan conditions for the crew and poor seaworthiness. During trips, they usually used only the middle tier, since the lower slots were clogged so that water did not get on board through them. The galleys of the developed Middle Ages were more bulky, as they carried heavy artillery. During their construction, the speed of movement was put on the back burner.
Combat use
The main weapon used in rowing galleys is an underwater ram. Historians suggest that it was originally used as a water cutter or a nose bulb to increase the seaworthiness of a ship in a storm. When heavier ships appeared, this element began to be strengthened and used to cause damage to the enemy ship. In its classic form, an underwater ram galley is a flattened trident. He did not pierce the side, but simply broke it.
From hitting an underwater ram in ships built using ancient technologies, the hull lining was severely damaged. When the rams began to be cast in bronze and installed on a massive keel beam of the hull, additionally supported by velvet (reinforced casing), their effectiveness increased significantly.
Having dispersed a light galley with a displacement of not more than 40 tons to a maximum speed, it was possible to penetrate a ship of equal size without any problems. So that when the enemy ship was defeated, the galley’s nose did not go too far into its hull, proembolon was used on later ships. It was a small surface ram, which, as a rule, was performed in the form of the head of an animal. Photo galleries with such a proembolon are probably familiar to all lovers of ancient ships.
There was another version of the attack on the galley: the ships came close together and passed one another at a minimum distance. At that moment, the oars broke and injured the rowers. If the vessel was able to conduct a good gliding blow to the enemy’s ship, then leaks could form in the hull of the latter. In addition, in the battles of the galleys, a boarding battle was used, for which there were always soldiers and arrows on board.