Viking+Ships+MJM

Vikings made some of the first fast ships in the Viking Age (800-1000 AD) They also had different kinds of ships for different tasks. For example they had the drekar (dragon-headed longships) so they could hold many men while striking fear into their enimies. The drekar was made so that you could sail then shoot a cannon then quickly shoot out oars (plus sail) and make a fast getaway. They also had the knarr which is a ocean-going carga vessel. It is bigger (width wise) than most of their other ships, therefore it could hold more cargo. They also had small boats (no special name) that were just every day boats used for fishing, transporting people, and transporting goods to other settlements.

They were also made in a special way using special tools. Instead of using a saw, they used a broad ax to split long, thin planks. Then they would use gint iron nails to stick them to a plank and overlap them. After that they used somthing called the "clinker" method inste of building the skeleton first. Next they added floor boards to the keel and added crossbeams to make rowing benches. They also added a beam to support the sail. Modern replicas have been made to go 14 knots and can only penatrate shallow surf.

Matthew MacLean