The Galleon
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: De Re Militari: The Society for Medieval Military History
Forum Discription: Official forum for the academic society De Re Militari: News about the society, its website and forthcoming publications; Discuss medieval warfare as well as ar
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30287
Printed Date: 18-May-2024 at 01:59
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: The Galleon
Posted By: Nick1986
Subject: The Galleon
Date Posted: 23-Sep-2011 at 18:13
Developed from medieval ships like the cog and carrack, the galleon could be used as a transport or a warship equipped with heavy guns like the demi-culverin. These big ships transported Indian gold from the New World to Spain and soon became part of every navy. Spain had Cacafuego and El Gran Grifon, Portugal had the San Martin, Sweden had the Vasa, and England had the Triumph and the Revenge. ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Replies:
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 23-Sep-2011 at 19:06
Vasa suffered the same fate as the Mary Rose: being equipped with too many guns it became top-heavy and sank on its maiden voyage. Due to the Baltic sea's low temperature Vasa was remarkably well-preserved. Clothing, shoes and personal belongings all survived 300 years' submersion, although Vasa's cannons were removed by Venetian divers shortly after her sinking ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 24-Sep-2011 at 20:18
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The English were the first to use the man o'war that marked the pinnacle of the age of sail. The first of these ships were galleons that had been "race-built:" the fore and stern-castles removed to reduce the required crew and eliminate unneccessary weight. ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 28-Sep-2011 at 20:11
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I haven't seen me old shipmate Francis Drake for a while. I'd like to hear his thoughts on this topic ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 02-Feb-2012 at 19:50
 By 1700 the galleon was obsolete as faster and better armed ships of the line were introduced. One of the last galleons was Santisma Trinidad (painted above by http://www.artistsharbour.com - Geoff Hunt ), a Spanish merchant vessel captured by the Royal Navy in 1762 bearing treasure valued at two million dollars. The sale of the ship for scrap netted the British officers another £30000 ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 03-Mar-2012 at 19:14
 The galleon HMS London was used to escort Charles II back to England following the Restoration. However, she was accidentally blown up in 1665 and sank in the Thames Estuary, where she was recently rediscovered by underwater archaeologists ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 04-Mar-2012 at 20:35
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Samuel Pepys witnessed the London's sinking. Here's his http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1665/03/08/index.php - diary entry from March 8 1665
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 05-Mar-2012 at 19:19
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Another galleon that blew up was Kronan, flagship of the Swedish navy. Her destruction during the Scanian War was a big blow to Sweden's prestige
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 06-Mar-2012 at 19:35
 The destruction of Kronan in the Battle of Olund. Only 50 of her 650 crew survived the explosion, caused when a lantern in the gunpowder magazine was dropped ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 07-Mar-2012 at 19:07
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Some of the artefacts found at the wreck-site: http://www.kalmarlansmuseum.se/1/1.0.1.0/423/1/?item=art_art-s1/1646 - http://www.kalmarlansmuseum.se/1/1.0.1.0/423/1/?item=art_art-s1/1646 ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 25-May-2012 at 20:16
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Osprey's Spanish Galleon: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6ApBsCi1FnMC&lpg=PP1&dq=galleon&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6ApBsCi1FnMC&lpg=PP1&dq=galleon&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 26-May-2012 at 19:22
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A galleon needed sufficient ballast to prevent it from capsizing. Once all the cargo had been sold, the crew would fill the hold with cheap goods like porcelain or wood for the return journey. These exotic imports became very desirable items for the elite who had furniture custom-made by craftsmen like Chippendale
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |