Post by The Smith on Oct 20, 2013 12:49:30 GMT -5
Lord Oswyn sat in the library of the Red Keep, poring desperately over the three texts on naval warfare that Queen Rose had recommended. Her words on their “basic” nature stating that they would be “insulting” to him in their simplicity echoed in his mind. For the first few hours, he was sure he had picked up the wrong tomes. The first of the books was a collection of basic naval terminology. It might as well have been in a foreign language, with its talk of halyards, rudders, keels, headway, and jibing. Even the directions required translation, providing even more confusion as he attempted to remember the difference between starboard and port, knowing that mixing them up during an actual engagement could cost lives.
The second tome was a lengthy history of naval development in the Seven Kingdoms. It was a dry tome, but made clear a navy’s vital role in carrying provisions, transporting troops, defending trade routes, and the like. It bored him nearly to tears, but he pressed on for as long as he could, knowing all these responsibilities fell under his jurisdiction.
He eventually put the book of history away, in favor of one describing actual engagements, grateful that there were birds-eye-view illustrations of the battles. It was slow going at first, but he found that if he imagined it were a land battle, he could understand the role of the different ships far better.
The war galleys were the cavalry, leading the charge with their mighty rams before boarding the enemy vessel with marines. They ranged in size from single decked ships with 100 oars to massive 4-decked warships with 400 oars, ballistae, and catapults. With oars as well as sails, their reliance on the wind was less heavy than other ships, allowing them to outmaneuver and flank less adaptable vessels. They were arguably the most potentially devastating ships in the royal fleet, though also took the most experience to utilize properly.
The cogs were more akin to infantry. Though less maneuverable than the galley, relying on a single large sail with no oars, they also carry more troops as they are typically deeper ships. Their purpose is usually to sidle up alongside vessels the war galleys have otherwise occupied and either board them with overwhelming numbers or pepper them with arrows.
The carracks were the supply lines. These four-masted vessels had a deep keep which allowed it to be stable in the heaviest seas and roomy enough to carry enough provisions and troops to supply a proper war. Slow and cumbersome in battle, they had to be escorted by more heavily armed ships to protect their valuable cargo.
The holks were the missile troops. These were essentially cogs with the added defense of a fore and aft castle to give archers a commanding firing platform and mount small siege weapons such as scorpions. They were typically brought alongside engaged vessels to change the balance of power at crucial battle points with a hail of arrows. They were also useful in a support capacity, disabling the sails of enemy vessels to allow galleys to set up ideal ramming angles.
The massive dromonds were essentially moveable fortresses. These ships were the prize of the Royal Fleet, essentially colossal galleys with anywhere from 400 to 800 oars and four decks. The top deck bristles with scorpions, with catapults mounted on the fore and aft. They were meant to dominate large swathes of the battlefield, able to turn the tide if placed correctly.
With a slightly clearer understanding of naval warfare, Oswyn closed the book. Happy with his studies for the day, he opened a far more enjoyable book, “The Wayward Wavedancer.”
(Oswyn advances to Beginner Naval Battle)
The second tome was a lengthy history of naval development in the Seven Kingdoms. It was a dry tome, but made clear a navy’s vital role in carrying provisions, transporting troops, defending trade routes, and the like. It bored him nearly to tears, but he pressed on for as long as he could, knowing all these responsibilities fell under his jurisdiction.
He eventually put the book of history away, in favor of one describing actual engagements, grateful that there were birds-eye-view illustrations of the battles. It was slow going at first, but he found that if he imagined it were a land battle, he could understand the role of the different ships far better.
The war galleys were the cavalry, leading the charge with their mighty rams before boarding the enemy vessel with marines. They ranged in size from single decked ships with 100 oars to massive 4-decked warships with 400 oars, ballistae, and catapults. With oars as well as sails, their reliance on the wind was less heavy than other ships, allowing them to outmaneuver and flank less adaptable vessels. They were arguably the most potentially devastating ships in the royal fleet, though also took the most experience to utilize properly.
The cogs were more akin to infantry. Though less maneuverable than the galley, relying on a single large sail with no oars, they also carry more troops as they are typically deeper ships. Their purpose is usually to sidle up alongside vessels the war galleys have otherwise occupied and either board them with overwhelming numbers or pepper them with arrows.
The carracks were the supply lines. These four-masted vessels had a deep keep which allowed it to be stable in the heaviest seas and roomy enough to carry enough provisions and troops to supply a proper war. Slow and cumbersome in battle, they had to be escorted by more heavily armed ships to protect their valuable cargo.
The holks were the missile troops. These were essentially cogs with the added defense of a fore and aft castle to give archers a commanding firing platform and mount small siege weapons such as scorpions. They were typically brought alongside engaged vessels to change the balance of power at crucial battle points with a hail of arrows. They were also useful in a support capacity, disabling the sails of enemy vessels to allow galleys to set up ideal ramming angles.
The massive dromonds were essentially moveable fortresses. These ships were the prize of the Royal Fleet, essentially colossal galleys with anywhere from 400 to 800 oars and four decks. The top deck bristles with scorpions, with catapults mounted on the fore and aft. They were meant to dominate large swathes of the battlefield, able to turn the tide if placed correctly.
With a slightly clearer understanding of naval warfare, Oswyn closed the book. Happy with his studies for the day, he opened a far more enjoyable book, “The Wayward Wavedancer.”
(Oswyn advances to Beginner Naval Battle)
Hope you all are well and happy.