VIKING SHIPS
Viking ships were marine vessels of particular
designs used and built by the Vikings during the Viking Age. The boat-types
were quite varied, depending on what the ship was intended for, but they were
generally characterized as being slender and flexible boats, with symmetrical
ends with true keel. They were clinker built, which is the overlapping of
planks riveted together. Some might have had a dragon's head or other circular
object protruding from the bow and stern, for design, although this is only inferred
from historical sources.
They ranged in the Baltic Sea and far from the
Scandinavian homelands, to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Newfoundland,
the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and Africa.
Development
The ship functioned as the centerpiece of Scandinavian culture for
centuries. In fact, the importance of the Viking ship is deeply rooted in
Scandinavian culture, as the vessel served both pragmatic and religious
purposes. Scandinavia is a region with relatively high inland mountain ranges
and easy access to coastal ports. Consequently, trade routes primarily operated
via shipping, as inland trading was both hazardous and cumbersome. Viking
kingdoms thus developed into coastal cities, all of which were deeply dependent
on the North Sea for survival and development. Control of the waterways was
then of critical importance, and consequently the most advanced war ships were
in high demand. In fact, because of their overwhelming importance, ships became
a mainstay of the Viking pagan religion, as they evolved into symbols of power
and prowess. Throughout the first millennia, respectable Viking chieftains and
noblemen were commonly buried with an intact, luxurious ship to transport them
to the afterlife. Furthermore, the Hedeby coins, among the earliest known
Danish currency, have ships as emblems, showing the importance of naval vessels
in the area. Through such cultural and practical significance, the Viking ship
progressed into the most powerful, advanced naval vessel in Viking Age Europe.
Types
Knarr
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The knarr is the Norse term for ships that were
built for Atlantic voyages. They were cargo ships averaging a length of about
54 feet (16 m), a beam of 15 feet (4.6 m), and a hull capable of
carrying up to 122 tons. Overall displacement: 50 tons. Knerrir routinely
crossed the North Atlantic centuries ago
carrying livestock and stores to Greenland. It was capable of
sailing 75 miles (121 km) in one day and held a crew of about 20-30. This
type of ship was used for longer voyages than the Gokstad type of ship and also
for hazardous trips. It is also shorter and sturdier than the Gokstad. It depended
mostly on sail-power and used its oars only as auxiliaries if there was no wind
on the open water.
Karve
Karves were
a type of tiny Viking ship similar to the knarr. They were used for human
transport, the movement of livestock and other goods. Because they were able to
navigate in very shallow water, they were also used for coasting. Karves had
broad beams of approximately 17 feet (5.2 m).
Fearing
A faering is
an open boat with two pairs of
oars, commonly found in most boat-building traditions in Western and Northern
Scandinavia and dating back to Viking era Scandinavia.
Longships
Longships were naval vessels made and used by the Vikings from
Scandinavia and Iceland for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare during
the Viking Age. The longship's design evolved over many years, beginning in the Stone
Age with the invention of the umiak and continuing up to the 9th century with
the Nydam and Kvalsund ships. The longship appeared in its complete form
between the 9th and 13th centuries. The character and appearance of these ships
have been reflected in Scandinavian boat-building traditions until today. The
average speed of Viking ships varied from ship to ship but lay in the range of
5–10 knots and the maximal speed of a longship under favorable conditions was
around 15 knots.
The long-ship is characterized as a graceful, long, narrow, light,
wooden boat with a shallow draft hull designed for speed. The ship's shallow
draft allowed navigation in waters only one metre 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.
Longships can be classified into a number of different types, depending
on size, construction details, and prestige. The most common way to classify
longships is by the number of rowing positions on board. Types ranged from the
Karvi, with 13 rowing benches, to the Busse, one of which has been found with
an estimated 34 rowing positions.
Longships were the epitome of Scandinavian naval power at the time, and
were highly valued possessions. They were often owned by coastal farmers and
commissioned by the king in times of conflict, in order to build a powerful
naval force. While longships were used by the Norse in warfare, they were troop
transports, not warships. In the tenth century, these boats would sometimes be
tied together in battle to form a steady platform for infantry warfare. They
were called dragonships by enemies such as the English because they had a dragon-shaped prow.
Construction
Viking ships varied from others of the period,
being generally more seaworthy and lighter. This was achieved through use of clinker (lapstrake) construction. The
planks from which Viking vessels were constructed were rived (split) from large, old-growth
trees—especially oaks. A ship's hull could be as thin as one inch
(2.5 cm), as a split plank is stronger than a sawed plank found in later
craft.
Working up from a stout oaken keel, the
shipwrights would rivet the planks together using wrought iron rivets and
roves. Ribs maintained the shape of the hull sides. Each tier of planks
overlapped the one below, and waterproof caulking was used between planks to
create a strong but supple hull. Remarkably large vessels could be constructed using
traditional clinker construction. Dragon-ships carrying 100 warriors were not
uncommon.
Furthermore, during the early Viking Age, oar ports
replaced rowlocks, allowing oars to be stored while the ship was at sail and to
provide better angles for rowing. The largest ships of the era could travel
five to six knots using oar power and up to ten knots under sail.
