Why isn't this a thing? Did the berbers not historically use ships closer to the description of a galley than to that of a barque? It'd make mediterranean privateering a lot more interesting, too.
Galley Privateering
- Thread starter Clownie
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Okay, long answer based on a book on Louis XIV galleys.
Galleys in the EUIV era, unlike antique or even medieval galleys, had convicts or slave crews, and rather large crews to row quite heavy ships compared to trirèmes (CF, 270-300 rowers)*. Because of those crews requirement and very limited cargo hold, galley had an extremely limited sea endurance compared to ships of the line or frigates maybe 8-9 days. Operations against Barbary corsairs (not Berbères...or not only Berbères, rather) with galleys were almost impossible with such limitiations
There is also the point of the actual speed atainable with galleys operating on row-power only : maybe 4 knots in optimal conditions and for an hour, two hours top. Galleys usually ''cruised'' with sails (they were known to be virually unoperable with even minucule winds ''against them'', I don't remember right now the English term) and operationally, most warships or even merchantmen could outrun them with ease.
Xebecs and co., much lighter than galleys proper, are another matter.
Galleys in the EUIV era, unlike antique or even medieval galleys, had convicts or slave crews, and rather large crews to row quite heavy ships compared to trirèmes (CF, 270-300 rowers)*. Because of those crews requirement and very limited cargo hold, galley had an extremely limited sea endurance compared to ships of the line or frigates maybe 8-9 days. Operations against Barbary corsairs (not Berbères...or not only Berbères, rather) with galleys were almost impossible with such limitiations
There is also the point of the actual speed atainable with galleys operating on row-power only : maybe 4 knots in optimal conditions and for an hour, two hours top. Galleys usually ''cruised'' with sails (they were known to be virually unoperable with even minucule winds ''against them'', I don't remember right now the English term) and operationally, most warships or even merchantmen could outrun them with ease.
Xebecs and co., much lighter than galleys proper, are another matter.