12-20-2008, 06:12 AM
It isn't required that everybody on a galley be an experienced sailor, anyhow. If there's a good navigator, a responsive few crew to work the steering rudders and trim the sail, and a captain that knows what to do and understands the weather, the oarsmen just need to row as directed.
In combat, strategy would have to be mostly worked out ahead of time, as signalling wasn't quite as refined as ours is today, nor were the vessels as maneuverable.
Many ships were lost in storms, because they just weren't as seaworthy as ships are today. Just a little too much water over the gunwale (I wonder what they called that before guns??) and the ship would not respond, another wave or two and down she goes. Can't batten down the hatches on an open boat.
In combat, strategy would have to be mostly worked out ahead of time, as signalling wasn't quite as refined as ours is today, nor were the vessels as maneuverable.
Many ships were lost in storms, because they just weren't as seaworthy as ships are today. Just a little too much water over the gunwale (I wonder what they called that before guns??) and the ship would not respond, another wave or two and down she goes. Can't batten down the hatches on an open boat.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.