Galleon
A
galleon was a large, multi-decked
sailing ship used primarily by the nations of
Europe from the
16th to
18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with
cannons.
Galleons were an evolution of the
caravel and
carrack (or nao), for the new great ocean going voyages. A lowering of the
forecastle and elongation of the hull gave an unprecedented level of stability in the water, and reduced wind resistance at the front, leading to a faster, more maneuverable vessel. The galleon differed from the older types primarily by being longer, lower and narrower, with a square tuck stern instead of a round tuck, and by having a snout or head projecting forward from the bows below the level of the forecastle. In
Portugal at least, carracks were usually very large ships for their time (often over 1000
tons), while galleons were mostly under 500 tons, although the
Manila galleons were to reach up to 2000 tons. Carracks tended to be lightly armed and used for transporting booty from the Far East, while galleons were purpose-built warships, and were stronger, more heavily armed, and also cheaper to build (5 galleons could cost around the same as 3 carracks) and were therefore a much better
investment for use as warships. There are nationalistic disputes about the origin of the galleon, which are complicated by its evolutionary development, but each Atlantic sea-power developed types suited to their needs, while constantly learning from their rivals.
The galleon was powered entirely by
sail, carried on three to five
masts, with a
lateen sail continuing to be used on the last (usually third) mast. They were used in both military and trade applications, most famously in the
Spanish treasure fleet, and the Manila Galleons. In fact, galleons were so versatile that a single vessel may have been refitted for wartime and peacetime roles several times during its lifespan. The galleon was the prototype of all three or more masted, square rigged ships, for over two and a half centuries, including the later
full-rigged ship.
The cores of the opposing
English and
Spanish fleets in the 1588 confrontation of the
Spanish Armada were galleons, with the modified English "race built" galleons developed by
John Hawkins proving decisive, while the more traditional Spanish galleons proved incredibly durable in the battles and in the great storm on the voyage home (most of the galleons survived).
Galleons were constructed from
oak (for the
keel),
pine (for the masts) and various
hardwoods for
hull and
decking. Hulls were usually
carvel-built. The expenses involved in galleon construction were enormous. Hundreds of expert tradesmen (including
carpenters,
pitch-melters,
blacksmiths,
coopers,
shipwrights, etc.) worked day and night for months before a galleon was seaworthy. Due to this, galleons were often funded by groups of wealthy businessmen who pooled resources for a new ship. Therefore, most galleons were originally consigned for trade, although those captured by rival nations were usually put into military service.
The most common gun used aboard a galleon was the
demi-culverin, although gun sizes up to
demi-cannon were possible.
Due to extensive time often spent at sea and poor conditions on board, much of the crew often perished during the voyage; therefore advanced
rigging systems were developed so that the vessel could be sailed home by an active
sailing crew a fraction of the size aboard at departure.
The galleon continued to be used until the early
18th century, when better designed and purpose-built vessels such as the
brig and
man of war rendered it obsolete for trade and warfare respectively.
The Galleon (1990), Conway Maritime Press, ISBN 0851775662
*
The Development of the Full-Rigged Ship From the Carrack to the Full-Rigger
