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[[File:First mate by henning.jpg|350px|thumb]]
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[[File:Paolopuggioni-ships.png|350px|thumb|[[Braavos]]i trading ships, with purple sails, by Paolo Puggioni]]
[[File:Blacktyde longship by MarcSimonetti.jpg|350px|thumb|Blacktyde longship by MarcSimonetti]]
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'''Watercraft''' in the [[known world]] range from small river and fishing boats, raider vessels, various warships and trade ships, up to the huge war [[w:dromond|dromonds]] and the magnificent [[swan ship]]s that cross the [[Summer Sea]].
[[File:Sallas escort ship by MarcSimonetti.jpg|350px|thumb|Sallas escort ship by MarcSimonetti]]
 
[[File:Suicide raider by MarcSimonetti.jpg|350px|thumb|Suicide raider by MarcSimonetti]]
 
  
Across westeros there are various types and size of watercraft in use from smaller fisher boats and raider vessels, various warships and trade ships, up to the huge war dromonds and the magnificent swan ships that cross the summer seas.
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==Types of Watercraft==
 +
Some of the descriptions are based on real world parallels.
  
==Ships in the World==
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===Ships===
===Seven Kingdoms===
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[[File:Blacktyde longship by MarcSimonetti.jpg|350px|thumb|[[Blacktyde]] longship, by Marc Simonetti © Fantasy Flight Games]]
As far as naval power in the [[Seven Kingdoms]], the Major fleets are: In the west [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoys]] fleet, based at the [[Iron Islands]], In the east [[Iron Throne|royal]] fleet(most of it destroyed on the Blackwater) based at [[Kings Landing]], In the south the [[House Redwyne|Redwynes]] fleet based on the [[Arbor]],<ref name=SSM:LannisterFleet>[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Lannister_Fleet/ SSM:The Lannister fleet] (September 26, 1999)</ref> However the North has had no strength at sea since [[Brandon Stark (Burner)|Brandon the Burner]] put his father's ships to the torch hundreds of years ago.{{Ref|aCoK|16}}
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[[File:Tysen Johnson Refurbished HulkI.jpg|thumb|A hulk refurbished by [[House Greyjoy]], by Lake Hurwitz © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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* Galleys are propelled by sail or oar power and are used for warfare, trade, and [[piracy]]. Due to their low setting they are primarily coastal ships, preferring to thread through archipelagos rather than risking even a moderate sea. Their large rower crew makes them maneuverable and swift but also require frequent stops for food and water. The galley has supplemental sails to replace or augment the effort of the rowers, particularly during long journeys. The ability to travel swiftly without regard to the direction or strength of the wind becomes invaluable for daylight expeditions across open water. The real world, practical upper limit for a galley fast and maneuverable enough for warfare was around twenty-five to thirty oars per side. By adding another level of oars, the galley could be made shorter with as many rowers, while making them strong enough to be effective ramming weapons. The flagship of [[House Hightower]], ''[[Honor of Oldtown]]'', and the flagship of the [[royal fleet]], ''[[King Robert's Hammer]]'', are the two largest known galleys in Westeros.  
  
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* Longships are a smaller type of ship primarily used by the [[ironborn]], but also coastal [[lord]]s{{ref|ASOS|45}} and the [[coming of the Andals|Andals of antiquity]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Riverlands}} They are long, narrow, light, wooden craft with a shallow-draft hull designed for speed. The ship's shallow draft allows navigation in waters only one meter deep and permits beach landings, while its light weight enables it to be carried over portages. Longships are also double-ended, the symmetrical bow and stern allowing the ship to reverse direction quickly without having to turn around. This trait proves particularly useful in northern latitudes where icebergs and sea ice pose hazards to navigation. Longships are fitted with oars along almost the entire length of the boat itself. Later versions sport a rectangular sail on a single mast which is used to replace or augment the effort of the rowers, particularly during long journeys. [[George R. R. Martin]] has compared them to [[w:longship|Viking longboats]].<ref name=SSM:GreyjoyFleet />
  
In the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, lords whose lands abut the coast, might keep a war galley or three about, for coastal defense against pirates, but only major houses like the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] might have larger and grander fleet of  twenty to thirty ships. Usually for major battle, the lords would call the ships of their various bannermen, just as Stannis summoned the lords of the narrow sea for the battle on the [[Battle of the Blackwater]].<ref name=SSM:LannisterFleet /> Similarly while [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoys]] main force is the [[Iron Fleet]], it can also raise hundreds of [[Ironmen]] ships(largest fleet), however most of those will be longships made for raids rather than battle, comparable to lesser war galleys elsewhere in the Seven Kingdoms. where Larger and more formidable ships are more common like cogs, carracks, and war galleys of various sides, up to the great dromonds with scorpions and catapults on deck.<ref name=SSM:GreyjoyFleet>[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Re_Greyjoy_Fleet/ SSM:Greyjoy fleet] (February 09, 1999)</ref>
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* Cogs are mostly propelled by sails, which make them difficult to sail, especially upwind, and they are hostage to breezes and currents in a way that the swift galley is not. However, it can better manage rough seas and its small crew and ample storage space give it greater freedom of movement, making it perfect for trade or equipment transport.  
  
 +
* Merchanters are trading vessels, like the cogs ''[[Myraham]]'' and ''[[Bountiful Harvest]]''.{{ref|ACOK|11}}{{ref|ASOS|10}}
  
The [[House Tyrell|Tyrells]] are in more or less the same position as the Lannisters, though they depend even more on their bannermen, especially the lords of the [[Shield Islands]] off the mouth of the Mander. The [[House Hightower|Hightowers]] have only a few warships, but control Oldtown, home to numerous trading vessels.<ref name=SSM:LannisterFleet />
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* Carracks are large ocean-going vessels. They are stable in heavy seas, and roomy enough to carry provisions for long voyages.
 
 
<!-- In [[A Dance with Dragons]] we learn that [[House Manderly|Manderlys]] has ? ships -->
 
  
 +
* [[Swan ship]]s, so called in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] for their great white sails and figureheads which are often carved in the shape of birds, are large ocean-going vessels designed and built in the [[Summer Isles]]. With a good wind behind them they can outrun any galley. However, they are helpless when becalmed. They have high masts and high forecastles.{{Ref|affc|35}} Summer Islanders have no warships and prefer trade and exploration to conquest, although their swan ships are ably defended.{{ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles}}
  
===Elsewhere===
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* Whalers are fat-bellied ships from [[Ibben]], with hulls black with tar, used to hunt and process whales in the [[Shivering Sea]]. Ibbenese ships, though ungainly and smelly, are renowned for their strength, as they are built to weather any storm and withstand the assaults of the largest whales.{{ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: Ib}}
On essos the [[Thirteen]] control about 1,000 ships, the [[Ancient Guild of Spicers]] own about 1,200 or 1,300, and the [[Tourmaline Brotherhood]] has about eight hundred.{{Ref|aCoK|63}}
 
  
Ibben make use of Fat-bellied whaling ships, with hulls black with tar. <!--here or types--> and people of the Summer Islands use Swan ships.
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* Hulks are ships which still float but are unable to put to sea.{{ref|ACOK|58}}
  
 +
===Boats===
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[[File:NitenRiver Runner.JPG|thumb|River Runner, by Niten © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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* River galleys are shallow draft boats{{ref|ASOS|74}} used to patrol and defend rivers like the [[Red Fork]],{{ref|ASOS|1}} the [[Trident]],{{ref|ASOS|74}} the [[Rhoyne]],{{ref|ADWD|22}} and the [[Noyne]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Norvos}} Some can hold eighteen oarsmen and more fighters.{{ref|ASOS|1}}
  
==Warfare==
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* River runners are long and lean boats used to navigate rivers, such as the [[Blackwater Rush]]{{ref|AGOT|18}} and the [[White Knife]].{{ref|ADWD|15}}
Ships are constantly used in small skirmishes and we have seen full scale naval engagements, for example: [[Battle of Fair Isle]], [[Battle of the Blackwater]]. they are also used for raiding, lords whose lands abut the coast might need to maintain war galley to defend against piracy, however it would be up to the major houses to deal with anything larger than that like the [[Ironborn]] raids encountered during the [[War of the Five Kings]]. Ship are also use for support roles providing provision, transporting troops etc.
 
  
The basic tactic of naval battles is to get the ship close enough to ram the other ship and then board her and fight the rest of the battle on the deck. Up until they close longbows and crossbows can be used and sometimes siege weapons considering few of the biggest War Galley's.
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* Ferries are used to transport passengers across bodies of water, such as the Blackwater Rush{{ref|AGOT|18}}{{ref|ACOK|52}} and the Trident.{{ref|ASOS|47}} Wherries are also used for transport on rivers like the Blackwater.{{ref|ACOK|58}}
  
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* Barges can be used to transport goods like grain{{ref|ASOS|1}}{{ref|ADWD|23}} and wood,{{ref|AFFC|26}} or armies and their equipment.{{ref|ACOK|56}}{{ref|ASOS|14}} Opulent and ornate pleasure barges are popular with the well to do.{{ref|AGOT|18}}{{ref|ACOK|48}}{{ref|AFFC|34}}{{ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}} Troupes of [[mummers]] use gaily-painted barges.{{ref|ADWD|24}}
* '''Longships''', are used as fast raiding ships on the sea and land. They can travel twice as swiftly as a merchant cog{{Ref|aCoK|11}} and carry about 1,000 men, specifically a hundred feet long longship would have about fifty oarsmen and room for about a 100 men on the deck.{{Ref|aCoK|24}}
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 +
* Skiffs are small sailboats popular with fisherfolk{{ref|ACOK|58}} and smugglers.{{ref|ACOK|10}}
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 +
* Serpent boats are [[w:gondola|slender poleboats]] used to traverse the canals of [[Braavos]]. They are shaped like water serpents and have painted heads and upraised tails.{{ref|AFFC|6}}
 +
 
 +
* Orphan boats are carved and painted poleboats which house the [[orphans of the Greenblood]].{{ref|AFFC|21}}
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 +
==Notable Fleets==
 +
===Westeros===
 +
[[File:Sallas escort ship by MarcSimonetti.jpg|350px|thumb|[[Salladhor Saan]]'s escort ship, by Marc Simonetti © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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The major fleets of [[Westeros]] are the [[Iron Fleet]] and the fleets of the [[ironborn]] lords, based in the [[Iron Islands]]; the [[royal fleet]], based at [[King's Landing]] and [[Dragonstone]]; and the [[Redwyne fleet]], based at the [[Arbor]].<ref name=SSM:LannisterFleet>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/The_Lannister_Fleet/ The Lannister fleet] (September 26, 1999)</ref> The [[north]] has had no strength at sea since [[King in the North]] [[Brandon Stark (Burner)|Brandon the Burner]] put [[Brandon Stark (Shipwright)|Brandon the Shipwright]]'s remaining ships to the torch hundreds of years ago.{{Ref|aCoK|16}}
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 +
In the rest of the [[Seven Kingdoms]], lords whose lands abut the coast might keep a war galley or three for coastal defense against [[pirates]], but only major houses like the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]] have larger and grander fleets of twenty to thirty ships. Usually for major battles, the lords call the ships of their various bannermen.<ref name=SSM:LannisterFleet /> While the [[House Greyjoy|Greyjoys']] main force is the Iron Fleet, they can also raise hundreds of ironborn ships. However, most of those will be [[w:longship|longships]] made for raids rather than battle. Other Westerosi lords are more likely to have larger and more formidable ships like cogs, carracks, and war galleys of various sides, up to the great dromonds with scorpions and catapults on deck.<ref name=SSM:GreyjoyFleet>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Re_Greyjoy_Fleet/ Re: Greyjoy fleet] (February 09, 1999)</ref>
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 +
The [[House Tyrell|Tyrells]] are in more or less the same position as the Lannisters, though they depend even more on their bannermen, especially the lords of the [[Shield Islands]] off the mouth of the [[Mander]]. The [[House Hightower|Hightowers]] have only a few warships, but control [[Oldtown]], home to numerous trading vessels.<ref name=SSM:LannisterFleet />
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===Essos===
 +
In [[Qarth]] in central [[Essos]], the [[Thirteen]] control a thousand ships, the [[Ancient Guild of Spicers]] own about twelve hundred or thirteen hundred, and the [[Tourmaline Brotherhood]] has about eight hundred.{{Ref|aCoK|63}}
  
* '''War Galley''', are larger than normal Galleys and carry more tonnage as a result of being equipped with siege weapons like ballista or catapults, and having a larger compliment of oarsmen and soldiers onboard. The standard tactic for engaging is to disable the opposing ships' sails then ram and board it. They are presumably the kind of ship that GRRM has compared to Venetian/Byzantine [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromon dromonds of war]<ref name=SSM:GreyjoyFleet />
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In [[Braavos]], the [[Sealord]] commands a fleet of warships second to none, and a mercantile fleet whose purple hulls and purple sails have become a common sight throughout the known world.{{ref|twoiaf|The Free Cities: Braavos}} The [[Arsenal]] of Braavos can reportedly build a war galley in a day.{{ref|AFFC|6}}
  
* '''[[Swan ship]]''', are known to have 'red archers', companies that help defend the vessel from attack. Women serve on swan ships, and can even command the 'red archers'. <Ref>[[A Dance with Dragons]] p.523-524</ref>
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==Warfare==
 +
[[File:Suicide raider by MarcSimonetti.jpg|350px|thumb|Suicide raider, by Marc Simonetti]]
 +
Ships are used in small skirmishes, raids, and full-scale naval engagements, such as the [[sea battle off Fair Isle]]. Lords whose lands abut the coast might need to maintain a few war galleys to defend against piracy. Ships are also use for support roles, such as providing provisions and transporting troops.
  
 +
The basic tactic of naval battles is to get the ship close enough to ram the other ship, board her, and fight the rest of the battle on the deck. Up until they close, longbows and crossbows can be used. Sometimes siege weapons are carried on the largest war galleys.
 +
 +
* Longships of the [[Iron Fleet]] are used as fast raiding ships. They can travel twice as swiftly as a merchant cog{{Ref|aCoK|11}} and are three times the size of standard longships.{{Ref|affc|29}} The standard tactic for engaging is to board the enemy ship. The whole crew being doubling as both marines and oarsmen, as well as the ironborn preference for wearing armor despite the risk of drowning, gives the ironborn an advantage when boarding.
  
==Types of ships - Specifications== <!-- Note 1 -->
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* War galleys or dromonds are larger than normal galleys and carry more tonnage as a result of being equipped with a ram, and they may equip siege weapons like ballista or catapults. They also have a larger compliment of oarsmen and soldiers onboard. The standard tactic for engaging is to ram the enemy ship, causing it to sink, or to board it if the attacking ship has a greater number of soldiers and wishes to capture the enemy ship intact. They are presumably the kind of ship that [[George R. R. Martin]] has compared to Venetian/Byzantine [[w:dromon|dromonds of war]].<ref name=SSM:GreyjoyFleet /> The standard war galley in Westeros has a hundred oars and oarmen, with the larger ships adding more decks of a hundred oarsmen. [[Myr]]ish war galleys appear to have no more than eighty oars. During boarding actions, oarsmen equipped with boarding axes, shortswords, and other weapons are expected to fight, though only a tenth of the crew (marines, rather than oarsmen) are wearing armor.{{Ref|affc|29}} Given Martin's comparison of these ships to Byzantine/Venetian war dromonds, there should be roughly thirty-five marines, archers, and artillery crews for every hundred oarsmen.<Ref>[https://www.naval-encyclopedia.com/medieval-ships/ Medieval Ships.] Naval Encyclopedia. "In general, the Dromon, a bireme, was propelled by 80 oars (for the biggest ones like the one represented above, of 50 by 7 meters), and could total 240 rowers, not counting the 80 soldiers, archers, officers, and crew for balisters and catapults."</ref>
* '''Galleys''', vessels larger than boats, that are primarily propelled by oar power. They are used for warfare, trade and piracy. Due to their low setting they were primarily coastal ships, preferring to thread through archipelagos rather than risking even a moderate sea. Their large rower crew made them maneuverable and swift but also required frequent stops for food and water. The galley has supplemental sails to replace or augment the effort of the rowers, particularly during long journeys. The ability to travel swiftly without regard to the direction or strength of the wind became invaluable for daylight expeditions across open water. (Real-life, practical upper limit for a galley fast and maneuverable enough for warfare was around 25-30 oars per side. By adding another level of oars, the galley could be made shorter with as many rowers, while making them strong enough to be effective ramming weapons.)  The flagship of [[House Hightower]], ''[[Honor of Oldtown]]'', is an impressive four-decked galley, bigger even than a dromond.{{Ref|affc|45}}
 
  
* '''Longships''', are smaller type of Galley, primarily used by the [[Ironborn]]. They are long, narrow, light, wooden boat with a shallow-draft hull designed for speed. The ship's shallow draft allowed navigation in waters only one meter deep and permitted beach landings, while its light weight enabled it to be carried over portages. Longships were also double-ended, the symmetrical bow and stern allowing the ship to reverse direction quickly without having to turn around; this trait proved particularly useful in northern latitudes where icebergs and sea ice posed hazards to navigation. Longships were fitted with oars along almost the entire length of the boat itself. Later versions sported a rectangular sail on a single mast which was used to replace or augment the effort of the rowers, particularly during long journeys. GRRM has compared them to Viking longboats.<ref name=SSM:GreyjoyFleet />
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* [[Swan ship]]s are known to have red archers with [[goldenheart]] bows, companies that help defend the vessel from attack. Women serve on swan ships and can command the red archers.{{ref|AFFC|35}}
  
* '''Cogs''', are mostly propelled by sails, which made it difficult to sail, especially upwind, and it was hostage to breezes and currents in a way that the swift galley was not. however it could better manage rough seas and its small crew and ample storage space gave it greater freedom of movement. making it perfect for trade or equipment transport.
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==Recent Events==
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===''A Clash of Kings''===
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[[File:First mate by henning.jpg|350px|thumb|A ship's crew, by Henning Ludvigsen © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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[[Victarion Greyjoy]] leads the [[Iron Fleet]] in [[fall of Moat Cailin|capturing Moat Cailin]].{{ref|ACOK|24}}{{ref|ACOK|69}}
  
* '''Carracks''', large ocean-going vessel. Stable in heavy seas, and roomy enough to carry provisions for long voyages.
+
The [[royal fleet]] is divided between King [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]] at [[King's Landing]] and [[Stannis Baratheon]] at [[Dragonstone]]. Both fleets are largely destroyed during the [[Battle of the Blackwater]].{{ref|ACOK|58}}
  
* '''[[Swan ship]]s''', so called in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] for their great white sails and figureheads which are often carved in the shape of birds, are very large ocean-going vessel designed and built in the [[Summer Islands]], with a good wind behind them can outrun any galley. However, they are helpless when becalmed. They have High-masts and high forecastles.{{Ref|ADWD|40|Page 527}}
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===''A Feast for Crows''===
 +
[[Euron Greyjoy]] leads the Iron Fleet and [[ironborn]] lords in the [[taking of the Shields]].{{ref|AFFC|29}}
  
* '''Whalers''', Fat-bellied ships with huge hulls black with tar from [[Ibben]] used to hunt and process whales in the [[Shivering Sea]].
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The [[Redwyne fleet]] assists in the [[siege of Dragonstone]].{{ref|AFFC|32}}
  
* '''[[Dromond]]s''' are among the biggest, most powerful and most expensive of the warships available in Westeros.  They are probably similar to the real historical [[w:dromond|dromonds]].  A [[Cersei's dromonds|fleet of ten dromonds]] is built to replenish King's Landing sea power. [[House Hightower]]'s fleet employs at least three on the fleet that protects the city, although its four-decked galley flagship, ''[[Honor of Oldtown]]'', is bigger yet.  Two other dromonds were sank by the Ironborn shortly before.{{ref|affc|45}}
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===''A Dance with Dragons''===
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Victarion leads the Iron Fleet to [[Slaver's Bay]].{{ref|ADWD|56}}{{ref|ADWD|63}}
  
==See Also==
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The Redwyne fleet sails back to defend the [[Reach]] from the [[ironborn]].{{ref|ADWD|44}}
* List of all known [[:Category:Ships|Ships]].
 
* List of known Warships [[:Category:Warships|Warships]].
 
  
* The [[Iron Fleet]].
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[[Davos Seaworth]] spots twenty-three war galleys at [[White Harbor]],{{ref|ADWD|15}} while [[Wyman Manderly]] claims to have as many more hidden up the [[White Knife]].{{ref|ADWD|29}}
  
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==See Also==
 +
* List of all known [[:Category:Ships|ships]].
 +
* List of known [[:Category:Warships|warships]].
 +
* [[:Category:Images of Ships|Images of ships]]
  
==Notes==
 
# Some of the descriptions are based on real life parallels.<br>
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{References}}
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{{references}}
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[[Category:Ships| ]]
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[[Category:Transport]]
  
[[Category:Ships| ]][[zh:船只]]
 
 
[[fr:Bateaux]]
 
[[fr:Bateaux]]
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[[ru:Корабли и морское дело]]
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[[zh:船只]]

Revision as of 21:45, 3 March 2020

Braavosi trading ships, with purple sails, by Paolo Puggioni

Watercraft in the known world range from small river and fishing boats, raider vessels, various warships and trade ships, up to the huge war dromonds and the magnificent swan ships that cross the Summer Sea.

Types of Watercraft

Some of the descriptions are based on real world parallels.

Ships

Blacktyde longship, by Marc Simonetti © Fantasy Flight Games
A hulk refurbished by House Greyjoy, by Lake Hurwitz © Fantasy Flight Games
  • Galleys are propelled by sail or oar power and are used for warfare, trade, and piracy. Due to their low setting they are primarily coastal ships, preferring to thread through archipelagos rather than risking even a moderate sea. Their large rower crew makes them maneuverable and swift but also require frequent stops for food and water. The galley has supplemental sails to replace or augment the effort of the rowers, particularly during long journeys. The ability to travel swiftly without regard to the direction or strength of the wind becomes invaluable for daylight expeditions across open water. The real world, practical upper limit for a galley fast and maneuverable enough for warfare was around twenty-five to thirty oars per side. By adding another level of oars, the galley could be made shorter with as many rowers, while making them strong enough to be effective ramming weapons. The flagship of House Hightower, Honor of Oldtown, and the flagship of the royal fleet, King Robert's Hammer, are the two largest known galleys in Westeros.
  • Longships are a smaller type of ship primarily used by the ironborn, but also coastal lords[1] and the Andals of antiquity.[2] They are long, narrow, light, wooden craft with a shallow-draft hull designed for speed. The ship's shallow draft allows navigation in waters only one meter deep and permits beach landings, while its light weight enables it to be carried over portages. Longships are also double-ended, the symmetrical bow and stern allowing the ship to reverse direction quickly without having to turn around. This trait proves particularly useful in northern latitudes where icebergs and sea ice pose hazards to navigation. Longships are fitted with oars along almost the entire length of the boat itself. Later versions sport a rectangular sail on a single mast which is used to replace or augment the effort of the rowers, particularly during long journeys. George R. R. Martin has compared them to Viking longboats.[3]
  • Cogs are mostly propelled by sails, which make them difficult to sail, especially upwind, and they are hostage to breezes and currents in a way that the swift galley is not. However, it can better manage rough seas and its small crew and ample storage space give it greater freedom of movement, making it perfect for trade or equipment transport.
  • Carracks are large ocean-going vessels. They are stable in heavy seas, and roomy enough to carry provisions for long voyages.
  • Swan ships, so called in the Seven Kingdoms for their great white sails and figureheads which are often carved in the shape of birds, are large ocean-going vessels designed and built in the Summer Isles. With a good wind behind them they can outrun any galley. However, they are helpless when becalmed. They have high masts and high forecastles.[6] Summer Islanders have no warships and prefer trade and exploration to conquest, although their swan ships are ably defended.[7]
  • Whalers are fat-bellied ships from Ibben, with hulls black with tar, used to hunt and process whales in the Shivering Sea. Ibbenese ships, though ungainly and smelly, are renowned for their strength, as they are built to weather any storm and withstand the assaults of the largest whales.[8]
  • Hulks are ships which still float but are unable to put to sea.[9]

Boats

River Runner, by Niten © Fantasy Flight Games
  • Ferries are used to transport passengers across bodies of water, such as the Blackwater Rush[14][16] and the Trident.[17] Wherries are also used for transport on rivers like the Blackwater.[9]
  • Barges can be used to transport goods like grain[11][18] and wood,[19] or armies and their equipment.[20][21] Opulent and ornate pleasure barges are popular with the well to do.[14][22][23][24] Troupes of mummers use gaily-painted barges.[25]
  • Skiffs are small sailboats popular with fisherfolk[9] and smugglers.[26]
  • Serpent boats are slender poleboats used to traverse the canals of Braavos. They are shaped like water serpents and have painted heads and upraised tails.[27]

Notable Fleets

Westeros

Salladhor Saan's escort ship, by Marc Simonetti © Fantasy Flight Games

The major fleets of Westeros are the Iron Fleet and the fleets of the ironborn lords, based in the Iron Islands; the royal fleet, based at King's Landing and Dragonstone; and the Redwyne fleet, based at the Arbor.[29] The north has had no strength at sea since King in the North Brandon the Burner put Brandon the Shipwright's remaining ships to the torch hundreds of years ago.[30]

In the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, lords whose lands abut the coast might keep a war galley or three for coastal defense against pirates, but only major houses like the Lannisters have larger and grander fleets of twenty to thirty ships. Usually for major battles, the lords call the ships of their various bannermen.[29] While the Greyjoys' main force is the Iron Fleet, they can also raise hundreds of ironborn ships. However, most of those will be longships made for raids rather than battle. Other Westerosi lords are more likely to have larger and more formidable ships like cogs, carracks, and war galleys of various sides, up to the great dromonds with scorpions and catapults on deck.[3]

The Tyrells are in more or less the same position as the Lannisters, though they depend even more on their bannermen, especially the lords of the Shield Islands off the mouth of the Mander. The Hightowers have only a few warships, but control Oldtown, home to numerous trading vessels.[29]

Essos

In Qarth in central Essos, the Thirteen control a thousand ships, the Ancient Guild of Spicers own about twelve hundred or thirteen hundred, and the Tourmaline Brotherhood has about eight hundred.[31]

In Braavos, the Sealord commands a fleet of warships second to none, and a mercantile fleet whose purple hulls and purple sails have become a common sight throughout the known world.[32] The Arsenal of Braavos can reportedly build a war galley in a day.[27]

Warfare

Suicide raider, by Marc Simonetti

Ships are used in small skirmishes, raids, and full-scale naval engagements, such as the sea battle off Fair Isle. Lords whose lands abut the coast might need to maintain a few war galleys to defend against piracy. Ships are also use for support roles, such as providing provisions and transporting troops.

The basic tactic of naval battles is to get the ship close enough to ram the other ship, board her, and fight the rest of the battle on the deck. Up until they close, longbows and crossbows can be used. Sometimes siege weapons are carried on the largest war galleys.

  • Longships of the Iron Fleet are used as fast raiding ships. They can travel twice as swiftly as a merchant cog[4] and are three times the size of standard longships.[33] The standard tactic for engaging is to board the enemy ship. The whole crew being doubling as both marines and oarsmen, as well as the ironborn preference for wearing armor despite the risk of drowning, gives the ironborn an advantage when boarding.
  • War galleys or dromonds are larger than normal galleys and carry more tonnage as a result of being equipped with a ram, and they may equip siege weapons like ballista or catapults. They also have a larger compliment of oarsmen and soldiers onboard. The standard tactic for engaging is to ram the enemy ship, causing it to sink, or to board it if the attacking ship has a greater number of soldiers and wishes to capture the enemy ship intact. They are presumably the kind of ship that George R. R. Martin has compared to Venetian/Byzantine dromonds of war.[3] The standard war galley in Westeros has a hundred oars and oarmen, with the larger ships adding more decks of a hundred oarsmen. Myrish war galleys appear to have no more than eighty oars. During boarding actions, oarsmen equipped with boarding axes, shortswords, and other weapons are expected to fight, though only a tenth of the crew (marines, rather than oarsmen) are wearing armor.[33] Given Martin's comparison of these ships to Byzantine/Venetian war dromonds, there should be roughly thirty-five marines, archers, and artillery crews for every hundred oarsmen.[34]
  • Swan ships are known to have red archers with goldenheart bows, companies that help defend the vessel from attack. Women serve on swan ships and can command the red archers.[6]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

A ship's crew, by Henning Ludvigsen © Fantasy Flight Games

Victarion Greyjoy leads the Iron Fleet in capturing Moat Cailin.[35][36]

The royal fleet is divided between King Joffrey I Baratheon at King's Landing and Stannis Baratheon at Dragonstone. Both fleets are largely destroyed during the Battle of the Blackwater.[9]

A Feast for Crows

Euron Greyjoy leads the Iron Fleet and ironborn lords in the taking of the Shields.[33]

The Redwyne fleet assists in the siege of Dragonstone.[37]

A Dance with Dragons

Victarion leads the Iron Fleet to Slaver's Bay.[38][39]

The Redwyne fleet sails back to defend the Reach from the ironborn.[40]

Davos Seaworth spots twenty-three war galleys at White Harbor,[15] while Wyman Manderly claims to have as many more hidden up the White Knife.[41]

See Also

References

  1. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
  2. The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 So Spake Martin: Re: Greyjoy fleet (February 09, 1999)
  4. 4.0 4.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 11, Theon I.
  5. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 10, Davos II.
  6. 6.0 6.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Ib.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 58, Davos III.
  10. 10.0 10.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 74, Arya XIII.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
  12. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion VI.
  13. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Norvos.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
  15. 15.0 15.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 15, Davos II.
  16. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 52, Sansa IV.
  17. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 47, Arya IX.
  18. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 23, Daenerys IV.
  19. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 26, Samwell III.
  20. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 56, Theon V.
  21. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
  22. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 48, Daenerys IV.
  23. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 34, Cat Of The Canals.
  24. Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  25. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 24, The Lost Lord.
  26. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
  27. 27.0 27.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 6, Arya I.
  28. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 So Spake Martin: The Lannister fleet (September 26, 1999)
  30. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
  31. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 63, Daenerys V.
  32. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Braavos.
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
  34. Medieval Ships. Naval Encyclopedia. "In general, the Dromon, a bireme, was propelled by 80 oars (for the biggest ones like the one represented above, of 50 by 7 meters), and could total 240 rowers, not counting the 80 soldiers, archers, officers, and crew for balisters and catapults."
  35. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
  36. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 69, Bran VII.
  37. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.
  38. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
  39. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 63, Victarion I.
  40. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 44, Jon IX.
  41. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.