Well I am no expert on the subject but over the years I have complied various factoids for use in a campaign I have been working on. I have recently been working on converting it from 2nd Edition to LotFP. I was using the "A Mighty Fortress" supplement from 2nd Edition for a lot of my gunpowder rules. The trick I discovered is to keep a narrow focus on a certain time period as to keep thing simple
For my campaign I use a tech level close to 1550 AD to 1650 AD. Since there was no real uniform construction no two ships were exactly alike. I stuck with 5 different classifications.
The Sloop (based on Bermuda Sloop) - small ships, 100 tons carried about 75 men
The Brigantine (based on Brig) - 150 tons, carried about 100 men
The Schooner (based on Two-masted Schooner) - 100 tons, carried about 75 men
The Frigate or the "Man-O-War" - 360 tons carrying about 190 men
The Square-Rigger or Galleon - 100 -150 tons, carried about 80-85 Men
One thing that struck me is how slow all of your ships are. See Comparison below. A historical galleon is about 76% faster if both ships are sailing under the same conditions.
These are the historical details for The Golden Hind, Sir Francis Drake's English Galleon.
• Crew: 20 officers & gentlemen, 40 to 60 crew, including a Master, Mate, Cook and 10 to 12 deckhands
• Masts: 3
o Sails 6, 5 square sails and lateen
• Hull: wooden
• Hull dimensions:
o Length:
Overall: 120 ft (36.5 m)
Hull: 102 ft (31 m)
Waterline: 75 ft (23 m)
o Breadth: 22 ft (6.7 m)
o Depth: 13.5 ft (4.1 m)
o Displacement: 300 tons (305 tons)
• Beam: 20 ft (6 m)
• Height of mainmast: 92 ft (27 m)
• Sail area: 4150 sq ft (386 m²)
• Speed (sail): 8 knots (15 km/h)[9 mi/h]
• Steering: Whip Staff Rudder.
• Capstan: used for hauling up the anchor, located in the armory and gun deck
• Crew complement: 80-85
• Armaments: 22 guns
o 2 Peteras (small guns) on poop deck
o 2 Peteras on fore deck
o 2 Falcons (long range guns using two pound shot) in forecastle
o 2 Falcons in stern
o 14 Minions (guns using four pound shot) on gun deck
• Load Cap: 100-150 tons (100-150 tons)
• Maximum Capacity: 95
LotFP Galleon, Excellent Quailty
• Crew: 150 (1 Captain, 1 Navigator, 14 Mates, 134 Crew)
• Masts: ?
o Sails square sails
• Hull: wooden
• Hull dimensions:
o Length:
Overall: ?
Hull: ?
Waterline:?
o Breadth: ?
o Depth: ?
o Displacement: ?
• Beam: ?
• Height of mainmast: ?
• Sail area: ?
• Speed (sail): 1.9 knots (3.5 km/h)[2.2 mi/h]
• Steering:?.
• Capstan:?
• Crew complement: 130+
• Armaments: ?
• Load Cap: 150 tons (150 tons)
• Maximum Capacity: 150
Last edited by Evil Eli (2011-06-25 20:49:37)