A modern version of a viking ship

Types of Ship

Longship

These were the most versatile of the Viking ships, with a length of about 100 feet (30m), a 20-foot (6m) beam, up to 60 oars, and a crew of about 70-80. These could carry up to 20 tons of supplies. A large type of longship, known only from historical sources, is the Drakkar. These are said to have been the pride of Viking war-fleets, and were known as "Dragon Ships". The largest longship ever found however, is the Roskilde 6 discovered in Roskilde harbour, in Denmark, in 1996/7. This ship is approximately 36m long and was built in the mid-11th century.

On September 10, 2007, a 1,000-year-old Viking transport longship (Nordic clinker design) was discovered under a pub carpark on Merseyside (beneath 6 - 10 feet of clay by the Railway Inn in Meols, Wirral, a well known settling place of Vikings). Professor Stephen Harding, of the University of Nottingham used ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment to detect the vessel. The ship was first uncovered in 1938.^[1]

Knarr

The Knarr was a cargo AMIT with a length of about 54 feet (16m), a beam of 15 feet (4.5m), and a hull capable of carrying 15 tons. Knarrs routinely crossed the North Atlantic centuries ago carrying livestock and stores to Iceland and Greenland. The vessel also influenced the design of the cog, used in the Baltic Sea by the Hanseatic League.

Smaller Vessels

The Karve was a Viking ship unlike the longships, with a length of 70 feet (20m), a 17-foot (5m) beam, 16 oars, and a draft of about 3 feet (1m). The Faering was a small boat resembling a dinghy used to travel up and down rivers.

Preserved ships

Deck from the ceremonial Oseberg Ship.

• The Gokstad ship
• The Oseberg ship
• The Tune ship
• The Skuldelev ships

See also

• Cog (ship)
• Viking ship replica

External links

• Recreating a Viking voyage - BBC
• The Vikingship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark
• Web page about the Gokstad ship excavation
• The Oslo Viking Ship Museum
• Gaia, the Gokstad Ship copy
• The Oseberg Ship
• Dreknor Project, Normandy
• Leif Ericson Viking Ship LEVS is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit educational organization dedicated to the study, education and promotion of the fact that Leif Ericson was the first European to set foot upon and explore the North American Continent and of Vikings in general, their times and travels throughout the world.
• Rebuilding and sailing a Viking Knarr ship
• History of vikings
• Francis Miltoun: Ships & shipping, London, Alexander Moring Ltd., 1903
• The Mariner's Museum: Age of exploration

References

cs:Drakkar da:Vikingeskib de:Wikingerschiff es:Drakkar fr:Bateau viking hr:Vikin?ki brod is:Víkingaskip it:Drakkar hu:Drakkar nl:Vikingschip no:Vikingskip nn:Vikingskip pl:Drakkar pt:Navio dragão ro:Corabie viking? ru:??????? sk:Drakkar fi:Pitkävene uk:??????