Tudor ships of war

This page attempts to describe the different classifications of ships of the Tudor Navy.
It is hoped to build up not only a description, but to provide illustrations of these classes,
and where possible give examples by reference to particular ships.

It would be appreciated if any inaccuracies, omissions, sources or suggestions could be emailed to me at: ben.simpson@wolfson.ox.ac.uk

• Balinger
  • A small sea-going sailing vessel, usually single masted, and flush decked. Noted for their speed and manoeverability.
    [Loades]
  • A small and light sea-going vessel, apparently a kind of sloop, much used in the 15th and 16th centuries; .....without forecastle.
    ...1525...they knewe by theyr balengers that the armye of Englande was comynge.
    [OED]

• Brigantine
  • A small vessel equipped both for sailing and rowing, swifter and more easily manoevred than larger ships, and hence employed for purposes of piracy, espionage, reconnoitring etc...
    ...1580 ... A brigantine or ship sent out to espie.
    ....1611...a low, long, and swift sea vessel, bigger than the fregat, and lesser than the foist, and hauing some 12 or 13 oares on a side: we call it a Brigantine..
    [OED]

• Carrack
  • A large three or four masted ship, originally developed as a merchantman in southern Europe. Characterized by deep draught, relatively broad beam, and very high fore and aft castles.
    [Loades]
  • A large ship of burden, also fitted for warfare, such as those formerly used by the Portuguese in trading with the East Indies; a galleon...
    ...1590... Spaine, who sent whole Armadoes of Carrects
    [OED]

• Crayer
  • A small single masted vessel, normally used for trade. Designed for maximum carrying capacity.
    [Loades]

• Dromond
  • A large ship of Mediterranean origin, propelled by both oar and sail. Obsolete by the mid-fifteenth century.
    [Loades]
  • A very large mediaeval ship; ... used both in war or commerce...
    ...1611... A mightie Argosey, called a Dromond.
    [OED]

• Galleass
  • A large oared warship, also propelled by sail, usually three masted, with a gun deck over the rowers' benches. A cross between a carrack and a galley, it tended to suffer from the disadvantages of both.
    [Loades]
  • A heavy low-built vessel, larger than a galley, impelled both by sail and oars, chiefly employed in war...
    ...1642... (Sir W Monson Naval Tracts III (1704) 360/1) A Galiass is built...low and snug...and carries the Force of a Ship...the thing that gives her Advantage in Fight, is her oares.
    [OED]

• Galleon
  • A term with many meanings, but usually used to describe a medium or large sailing ship, built flush decked and without castles. Galleons were normally somewhat longer and narrower than carracks, and had superior handling qualities.
    [Loades]
  • A kind of vessel, shorter but higher than a galley; a ship of war, especially Spanish; also large vessels used by the Spaniards in carrying on trade with their American possessions
    ...1608...Fortie or fiftie tall ships, whereof were four of the kings greatest and warlikest gallions
    [OED]

• Galley
  • A lightly-built fighting ship, chiefly propelled by oars. Galleys were fast and could move independantly of the wind, but they could not carry heavy armament, and were at risk in rough weather.
    [Loades]
  • A low flat-built sea-going vessel with one deck, propelled by sails and oars, formerly in common use in the Mediterranean.
    [no relevant example of usage]
    [OED]

• Pinnace
  • A small vessel of 20-40 tons, usually fitted with two masts. Every large warship had a pinnace as tender, which was usually towed behind when not in use.
    [Loades]
  • A small light vessel, generally two-masted, and schooner rigged; often in attendance on a larger vessel as a tender, scout, etc...
    ...1569...The Shippes...were haled out by the Gallies and other small pynnaces rowed with ores
    [OED]

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  Sources:

  Loades, David: The Tudor Navy Scolar Press, Aldershot, 1992
  Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition.

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