Goldie's Guide to Ships (work in progress)
A quick guide to ships through the years to help give a baseline for ships that may appear in our stories or game worlds.
Some ships have a long history and have an approximate set of numbers, though they were moderately researched. If you want to know more about any of these ships, I invite you to google search them and read more.
For most ships, the crew is the number of people needed to operate the ship. The compliment is either the additional number of men it could carry, or, the total amount the ship could carry including the crew. Some research was not clear on that.
Some terms to know:
Caravel: A small fast sailing ship.
Carrack: A large sailing ship.
Frigate: A warship that is fast and lightly armed.
Galleon: A large multi-decked ship used for war and trade.
Galley: A low flat ship with one to three sails, and up to three banks of oars.
Junk: A Chinese ship with a high stern, and battened sails.
Sloop: A single masted ship with rigging fore and aft, meaning the sail is parallel to the ship, and not perpendicular.
Khufu Ship
Year: 2500 BC
Type: Solar Barque
No. of Sails: 0
No. of Oars: 12
Length: 142' Width: 19' Draft: 6'
Displacement: ~45 tons
Crew: ~30 Compliment: ~50
Decks: 1
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Penteconter
Year: 1400 BC
Type: Warship (Galley)
No. of Sails: 1
No. of Oars: 50
Length: 108' Width: 12' Draft: 2'
Displacement: ~35 tons
Crew: ~50 Compliment: ~60
Decks: 1
Max Speed: 7 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Bireme
Year: 800 BC
Type: Warship (Galley)
No. of Sails: 1 (2)
No. of Oars: 100
Length: 80' Width: 10' Draft: 2'
Displacement: ~26 tons
Crew: ~120 Compliment: ~150
Decks: 2
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Trireme
Year: 700 BC
Type: Warship (Galley)
No. of Sails: 2
No. of Oars: 180
Length: 135' Width: 20' Draft: 3'
Displacement: ~50 tons
Crew: ~180 Compliment: ~200
Decks: 2
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Corbita
Year: 200-400
Type: Cargo
No. of Sails: 1 (2)
Length: ~65'-100' Width: ~16'-26' Draft: ~3'-9'
Displacement: ~100-600 tons
Crew: ~4-10 Compliment: ~100-400
Decks: 1 (2) Full 0-2
Max Speed: 6 knots
Avg Speed: 4-6 knots
Knarr
Year: 700
Type: Norse Cargo Ship
No. of Sails: 1
No. of Oars: 4
Length: 54' Width: 16' Draft: 3'
Displacement: ~20 tons
Crew: ~5-15 Compliment: ~20-50
Decks: 1
Max Speed: 13 knots
Avg Speed: 5-10 knots
Viking Longship
Year: 800
Type: Norse Raiding Ship
No. of Sails: 1
No. of Oars: 40
Length: 76' Width: 17' Draft: 3'
Displacement: ~20 tons
Crew: ~45 Compliment: ~100
Decks: 1
Max Speed: 15 knots
Avg Speed: 5-10 knots
Junk
Year: 900 <--Ocean Worthy (3500BC <--River Boats)
Type: Junk
No. of Sails: 1-3
Length: ~65'-98' Width: ~17'-20' Draft: 9'
Displacement: ~120-390 tons
Crew: ~7-50 Compliment ~100
Decks: 1-4
Max Speed: 8-14 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Cog
Year: 1000-1200
Type: Cargo
No. of Sails: 1 (2)
Length: 49'-82' Width: 16'-26' Draft: 9'
Displacement: ~40-200tons
Crew: ~15-20 Compliment: ~40-75
Decks: 1 Full 0-2 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Nina
Year: 1492
Type: Caravel
No. of Sails: 3
Length: 50' Width: 15' Draft: 6'
Displacement: ~60 tons
Crew: ~24
Decks: 2 Full 2 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Pinta
Year: 1492
Type: Caravel
No. of Sails: 3
Length: 56' Width: 17' Draft: 7'
Displacement: ~70 tons
Crew: ~26
Decks: 2 Full 2 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 4 knots
Santa Maria
Year: 1492
Type: Carrack
No. of Sails: 5
Length: 62' Width: 18' Draft: 10'
Displacement: ~135 tons
Crew: ~40
Decks: ~3 Full 2 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 4 knots
Golden Hind
Year: 1577
Type: Galleon
No. of Sails: 5
Length: 102' Width: 20' Draft: 9'
Displacement: ~110 tons
Crew: ~32 Compliment: ~85
Decks: 3 Full 2 Partial
Guns: 22
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 4-5 knots
Mayflower
Year: 1609
Type: Merchant Ship
No. of Sails: 6
Length: 110' Width: 20' Draft: 9'
Displacement: ~190 tons
Crew: ~30 Compliment: ~102
Decks: 3 Full 1 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 3 knots
Vasa
Year: 1627
Type: Warship (Swedish)
No. of Sails: 8
Length: 226' Width: 38' Draft: 16'
Displacement: ~1200 tons
Crew: ~145 Compliment: ~300
Decks: 4 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 64
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 5 knots
Queen Anne's Revenge
Year: 1710
Type: Frigate
No. of Sails: 11
Length: 103' Width: 25' Draft: 12'
Displacement: ~300 tons
Crew: ~40 Compliment: ~300
Decks: 3 Full 2 Partial
Guns: 40
Max Speed: 12 knots
Avg Speed: 10 knots
HMS Victory
Year: 1765
Type: Warship (First Rate)
No. of Sails: 20
Length: 186' Width: 51' Draft: 28'
Displacement: ~3700 tons
Crew: ~400 Compliment: ~850
Decks: 5 Full 2 Partial
Guns: 102
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 7-8 knots
Santisima Trinidad
Year: 1769
Type: Warship (Spanish)
No. of Sails: 20
Length: 201' Width: 53' Draft: 26'
Displacement: ~4950 tons
Crew: ~886 Compliment: ~1200
Decks: 6 Full
Guns: 116
Max Speed: 9 knots
Avg Speed: 7-8 knots
HMS Pandora
Year: 1779
Type: Porcupine
No. of Sails: 14
Length: 114' Width: 32' Draft: 7'
Displacement: ~500 tons
Crew: ~40 Compliment: ~160
Decks: 2 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 24
Max Speed: 20 knots
Avg Speed: 18 knots
HMS Agamemnon
Year: 1781
Type: Warship (Third Rate)
No. of Sails: 16
Length: 160' Width: 44' Draft: 19'
Displacement: ~2200 tons
Crew: ~153 Compliment: ~500
Decks: 4 Full 2 Partial
Guns: 64
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5 knots
HMS Bounty
Year: 1784
Type: Merchant Ship
No. of Sails: 12
Length: 90' Width: 24' Draft: 11'
Displacement: ~230 tons
Crew: ~44
Decks: 3 Full
Guns: 4 + 10 Swivel Guns
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
Ocean
Year: 1790
Type: Warship (First Rate)
No. of Sails: 25
Length: 213 Width: 53' Draft: 26'
Displacement: ~5000 tons
Crew: ~620 Compliment: ~1079
Decks: 4 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 118
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
Redoubtable
Year: 1795
Type: Warship (Temeraire)
No. of Sails: 18
Length: 183 Width: 47' Draft: 23'
Displacement: ~3500 tons
Crew: ~592 Compliment: ~705
Decks: 3 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 74
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
HMS Surprise
Year: 1796
Type: Corvette
No. of Sails: 18
Length: 126' Width: 26' Draft: 14'
Displacement: ~600 tons
Crew: ~120 Compliment: ~220
Decks: 3 Full
Guns: 32
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
Robuste
Year: 1803
Type: Warship (Bucentaure)
No. of Sails: 17
Length: 194' Width: 45' Draft: 19'
Displacement: ~3200 tons
Crew: ~640 Compliment: ~840
Decks: 3 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 86
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
HMS Implacable
Year: 1805
Type: Warship (Temeraire)
No. of Sails: 17
Length: 181' Width: 48' Draft: 20'
Displacement: ~3500 tons
Crew: ~500 Compliment: ~640
Decks: 3 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 74
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
Trincomalee
Year: 1817
Type: Frigate
No. of Sails: 15
Length: 150' Width: 39' Draft: 12'
Displacement: ~1447 tons
Crew: ~89 Compliment: ~350
Decks: 4 Full
Guns: 38
Max Speed: 13 knots
Avg Speed: 10 knots
HMS Beagle
Year: 1820
Type: Brig Sloop
No. of Sails: 16
Length: 90' Width: 24' Draft: 12'
Displacement: ~550 tons
Crew: ~65 Compliment: ~120
Guns: 10
Decks: 2 Full 1 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5 knots
Cutty Sark
Year: 1869
Type: Clipper
No. of Sails: 25
Length: 280' Width: 36' Draft: 21'
Displacement: ~2100 tons
Crew: ~35
Decks: 2 Full 1 Partial
Max Speed: 17 knots
Avg Speed: 12 knots
Questions or comments? PM Box
Stories by Pmmg: The Eye of Ebon <--for sale on Amazon!
A quick guide to ships through the years to help give a baseline for ships that may appear in our stories or game worlds.
Some ships have a long history and have an approximate set of numbers, though they were moderately researched. If you want to know more about any of these ships, I invite you to google search them and read more.
For most ships, the crew is the number of people needed to operate the ship. The compliment is either the additional number of men it could carry, or, the total amount the ship could carry including the crew. Some research was not clear on that.
Some terms to know:
Caravel: A small fast sailing ship.
Carrack: A large sailing ship.
Frigate: A warship that is fast and lightly armed.
Galleon: A large multi-decked ship used for war and trade.
Galley: A low flat ship with one to three sails, and up to three banks of oars.
Junk: A Chinese ship with a high stern, and battened sails.
Sloop: A single masted ship with rigging fore and aft, meaning the sail is parallel to the ship, and not perpendicular.
Khufu Ship
Year: 2500 BC
Type: Solar Barque
No. of Sails: 0
No. of Oars: 12
Length: 142' Width: 19' Draft: 6'
Displacement: ~45 tons
Crew: ~30 Compliment: ~50
Decks: 1
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Penteconter
Year: 1400 BC
Type: Warship (Galley)
No. of Sails: 1
No. of Oars: 50
Length: 108' Width: 12' Draft: 2'
Displacement: ~35 tons
Crew: ~50 Compliment: ~60
Decks: 1
Max Speed: 7 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Bireme
Year: 800 BC
Type: Warship (Galley)
No. of Sails: 1 (2)
No. of Oars: 100
Length: 80' Width: 10' Draft: 2'
Displacement: ~26 tons
Crew: ~120 Compliment: ~150
Decks: 2
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Trireme
Year: 700 BC
Type: Warship (Galley)
No. of Sails: 2
No. of Oars: 180
Length: 135' Width: 20' Draft: 3'
Displacement: ~50 tons
Crew: ~180 Compliment: ~200
Decks: 2
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Corbita
Year: 200-400
Type: Cargo
No. of Sails: 1 (2)
Length: ~65'-100' Width: ~16'-26' Draft: ~3'-9'
Displacement: ~100-600 tons
Crew: ~4-10 Compliment: ~100-400
Decks: 1 (2) Full 0-2
Max Speed: 6 knots
Avg Speed: 4-6 knots
Knarr
Year: 700
Type: Norse Cargo Ship
No. of Sails: 1
No. of Oars: 4
Length: 54' Width: 16' Draft: 3'
Displacement: ~20 tons
Crew: ~5-15 Compliment: ~20-50
Decks: 1
Max Speed: 13 knots
Avg Speed: 5-10 knots
Viking Longship
Year: 800
Type: Norse Raiding Ship
No. of Sails: 1
No. of Oars: 40
Length: 76' Width: 17' Draft: 3'
Displacement: ~20 tons
Crew: ~45 Compliment: ~100
Decks: 1
Max Speed: 15 knots
Avg Speed: 5-10 knots
Junk
Year: 900 <--Ocean Worthy (3500BC <--River Boats)
Type: Junk
No. of Sails: 1-3
Length: ~65'-98' Width: ~17'-20' Draft: 9'
Displacement: ~120-390 tons
Crew: ~7-50 Compliment ~100
Decks: 1-4
Max Speed: 8-14 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Cog
Year: 1000-1200
Type: Cargo
No. of Sails: 1 (2)
Length: 49'-82' Width: 16'-26' Draft: 9'
Displacement: ~40-200tons
Crew: ~15-20 Compliment: ~40-75
Decks: 1 Full 0-2 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Nina
Year: 1492
Type: Caravel
No. of Sails: 3
Length: 50' Width: 15' Draft: 6'
Displacement: ~60 tons
Crew: ~24
Decks: 2 Full 2 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5-7 knots
Pinta
Year: 1492
Type: Caravel
No. of Sails: 3
Length: 56' Width: 17' Draft: 7'
Displacement: ~70 tons
Crew: ~26
Decks: 2 Full 2 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 4 knots
Santa Maria
Year: 1492
Type: Carrack
No. of Sails: 5
Length: 62' Width: 18' Draft: 10'
Displacement: ~135 tons
Crew: ~40
Decks: ~3 Full 2 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 4 knots
Golden Hind
Year: 1577
Type: Galleon
No. of Sails: 5
Length: 102' Width: 20' Draft: 9'
Displacement: ~110 tons
Crew: ~32 Compliment: ~85
Decks: 3 Full 2 Partial
Guns: 22
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 4-5 knots
Mayflower
Year: 1609
Type: Merchant Ship
No. of Sails: 6
Length: 110' Width: 20' Draft: 9'
Displacement: ~190 tons
Crew: ~30 Compliment: ~102
Decks: 3 Full 1 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 3 knots
Vasa
Year: 1627
Type: Warship (Swedish)
No. of Sails: 8
Length: 226' Width: 38' Draft: 16'
Displacement: ~1200 tons
Crew: ~145 Compliment: ~300
Decks: 4 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 64
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 5 knots
Queen Anne's Revenge
Year: 1710
Type: Frigate
No. of Sails: 11
Length: 103' Width: 25' Draft: 12'
Displacement: ~300 tons
Crew: ~40 Compliment: ~300
Decks: 3 Full 2 Partial
Guns: 40
Max Speed: 12 knots
Avg Speed: 10 knots
HMS Victory
Year: 1765
Type: Warship (First Rate)
No. of Sails: 20
Length: 186' Width: 51' Draft: 28'
Displacement: ~3700 tons
Crew: ~400 Compliment: ~850
Decks: 5 Full 2 Partial
Guns: 102
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 7-8 knots
Santisima Trinidad
Year: 1769
Type: Warship (Spanish)
No. of Sails: 20
Length: 201' Width: 53' Draft: 26'
Displacement: ~4950 tons
Crew: ~886 Compliment: ~1200
Decks: 6 Full
Guns: 116
Max Speed: 9 knots
Avg Speed: 7-8 knots
HMS Pandora
Year: 1779
Type: Porcupine
No. of Sails: 14
Length: 114' Width: 32' Draft: 7'
Displacement: ~500 tons
Crew: ~40 Compliment: ~160
Decks: 2 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 24
Max Speed: 20 knots
Avg Speed: 18 knots
HMS Agamemnon
Year: 1781
Type: Warship (Third Rate)
No. of Sails: 16
Length: 160' Width: 44' Draft: 19'
Displacement: ~2200 tons
Crew: ~153 Compliment: ~500
Decks: 4 Full 2 Partial
Guns: 64
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5 knots
HMS Bounty
Year: 1784
Type: Merchant Ship
No. of Sails: 12
Length: 90' Width: 24' Draft: 11'
Displacement: ~230 tons
Crew: ~44
Decks: 3 Full
Guns: 4 + 10 Swivel Guns
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
Ocean
Year: 1790
Type: Warship (First Rate)
No. of Sails: 25
Length: 213 Width: 53' Draft: 26'
Displacement: ~5000 tons
Crew: ~620 Compliment: ~1079
Decks: 4 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 118
Max Speed: 10 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
Redoubtable
Year: 1795
Type: Warship (Temeraire)
No. of Sails: 18
Length: 183 Width: 47' Draft: 23'
Displacement: ~3500 tons
Crew: ~592 Compliment: ~705
Decks: 3 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 74
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
HMS Surprise
Year: 1796
Type: Corvette
No. of Sails: 18
Length: 126' Width: 26' Draft: 14'
Displacement: ~600 tons
Crew: ~120 Compliment: ~220
Decks: 3 Full
Guns: 32
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
Robuste
Year: 1803
Type: Warship (Bucentaure)
No. of Sails: 17
Length: 194' Width: 45' Draft: 19'
Displacement: ~3200 tons
Crew: ~640 Compliment: ~840
Decks: 3 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 86
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
HMS Implacable
Year: 1805
Type: Warship (Temeraire)
No. of Sails: 17
Length: 181' Width: 48' Draft: 20'
Displacement: ~3500 tons
Crew: ~500 Compliment: ~640
Decks: 3 Full 1 Partial
Guns: 74
Max Speed: 11 knots
Avg Speed: 8 knots
Trincomalee
Year: 1817
Type: Frigate
No. of Sails: 15
Length: 150' Width: 39' Draft: 12'
Displacement: ~1447 tons
Crew: ~89 Compliment: ~350
Decks: 4 Full
Guns: 38
Max Speed: 13 knots
Avg Speed: 10 knots
HMS Beagle
Year: 1820
Type: Brig Sloop
No. of Sails: 16
Length: 90' Width: 24' Draft: 12'
Displacement: ~550 tons
Crew: ~65 Compliment: ~120
Guns: 10
Decks: 2 Full 1 Partial
Max Speed: 8 knots
Avg Speed: 5 knots
Cutty Sark
Year: 1869
Type: Clipper
No. of Sails: 25
Length: 280' Width: 36' Draft: 21'
Displacement: ~2100 tons
Crew: ~35
Decks: 2 Full 1 Partial
Max Speed: 17 knots
Avg Speed: 12 knots
Questions or comments? PM Box
Stories by Pmmg: The Eye of Ebon <--for sale on Amazon!
