The Drakkar Drakkar

Overview A warship designed to carry fearless Viking warriors on their raids across Europe. A warship designed to carry fearless Viking warriors on their raids across Europe. Called a dragon ship by its enemies. Called a dragon ship by its enemies. Most large Drakkar, were owned by a powerful king. Most large Drakkar, were owned by a powerful king.

Size Average length of a longship was 28 meters long (91 feet). Average length of a longship was 28 meters long (91 feet). Largest ever excavated was seventy meters (227 feet) long. Largest ever excavated was seventy meters (227 feet) long.

The Largest Longships Owned by a powerful king. Owned by a powerful king. –He was the only one who could afford to build it. Sixty oarsmen Sixty oarsmen Four hundred warriors Four hundred warriors In the last days of the Viking Age, three hundred of this type of longship were in the Viking fleet. In the last days of the Viking Age, three hundred of this type of longship were in the Viking fleet.

Average Longships Owned by an earl or nobleman Owned by an earl or nobleman Crew of twenty to thirty oarsmen Crew of twenty to thirty oarsmen Other crew members Other crew members –Helmsmen: steered the ship –lookout : watched for rocks in shallow waters –few spare men Took the place a tired oarsmen Took the place a tired oarsmen Replaced one lost overboard during a storm Replaced one lost overboard during a storm –warriors

General Info Named longships according to the number of pairs of oars they carried and the purpose the ship served. Named longships according to the number of pairs of oars they carried and the purpose the ship served. Tjue-sesser Tjue-sesser –Twenty pair of oars –Owned by a settlement –Served the king when he needed their help Most common drakkar had 15 pairs of oars. Most common drakkar had 15 pairs of oars. –Pride of Viking earls and kings –Best built in the Viking fleet –Appeared only in the biggest wars during the last years of the Viking Age

Construction Clinker design Clinker design –Planked using two centimeter (3/4“) thick oak boards Overlapped slightly Overlapped slightly Fastened with iron nails. Fastened with iron nails. –spaces between the planks were caulked with tarred wool or animal fur to make the ship watertight –planks were also nailed to support-ribbing that ran from the gunwale to the keel. –keel, which ran the full length of the ship Made of one solid piece of oak. Made of one solid piece of oak. It add stability It add stability Made the ship travel straight through the water Made the ship travel straight through the water

Construction of the Drakkar Gunwale

Construction Longship was very sturdy, and yet flexible enough to withstand the waves of stormy seas. Longship was very sturdy, and yet flexible enough to withstand the waves of stormy seas. Light enough to be dragged overland between lakes or rivers. Light enough to be dragged overland between lakes or rivers. The prow, or bow, was sometimes tipped with a very ornate carving of a snake or dragon head, thus earning it the nickname The prow, or bow, was sometimes tipped with a very ornate carving of a snake or dragon head, thus earning it the nickname "dragon ship". –The ornament was removed while the ship was it sea. –Replacing such a finely carved piece was expensive –Losing it was a bad omen.

Sail and Mast

Sail Expensive to make Expensive to make –often cost more the rest of the ship itself. –Made of wool from sheep or linen from the flax plant. Making them was the responsibility of Viking women. Making them was the responsibility of Viking women.

Making the sail Small diamond-shaped pieces were woven and then trimmed with leather. Small diamond-shaped pieces were woven and then trimmed with leather. –leather helped the pieces keep their shape, especially when wet. –diamond pieces were then sewn together to make one large square sail. –leather strips gave the cross-hatched pattern. Sails were usually as wide as half the ship's length. Sails were usually as wide as half the ship's length. Red dye was added to the leather trim to produce the vivid cross-hatched pattern. Red dye was added to the leather trim to produce the vivid cross-hatched pattern. –Sometimes the whole sail was dyed a solid red color. –Red, the color of blood, was meant to strike fear into the hearts of the Vikings' enemies

Mast and Sail The sail was hoisted and held in place on the center mast with ropes likely made from walrus hide. Once it caught a steady breeze, the sail could move the ship a very swift twelve knots If the winds were calm, twenty to thirty oarsmen could move the ships through the water at about five knots. At night, the sail was lowered and removed from the ship In bad weather, it often served as a tent (Vikings, inventors of the sleeping bag, would sleep under the sail for protection). The mast that held the sail was attached to the keel. –Mast could be removed and laid on the deck –Replacing a broken mast would not be possible on a raid.

Ships at Sea Navigate in water less than a meter deep (3 feet). Navigate in water less than a meter deep (3 feet). In shallow water, the warriors would move to one side of the ship to tilt it so it would pass over rocks and shoals. In shallow water, the warriors would move to one side of the ship to tilt it so it would pass over rocks and shoals. The longships' tapered bows and sterns enabled the Vikings to row the ships forwards and backwards without first having to turn the ships around. The longships' tapered bows and sterns enabled the Vikings to row the ships forwards and backwards without first having to turn the ships around. –This was a great advantage when fleeing after a raid.

Shields Drakkars are often pictured with shields hanging from the gunwales. Drakkars are often pictured with shields hanging from the gunwales. –Held in place by racks or ropes. –Protected warriors against arrows and spears during sea battles. –Protected raiding parties as the ships neared shore. In rough seas, they could easily be lost overboard. In rough seas, they could easily be lost overboard. –Warriors depended on their shields for their lives. –They would store them safely on board the ship.

Things that make you go “Hmmm” The deck of a longship was completely planked over. The deck of a longship was completely planked over. –No sleeping quarters. –Crewmen and warriors stored their personal belongings in chests on the deck. Oarsmen sat on these chests when rowing. –Airtight: kept it high in water. Meals on a drakkar weren't great. Meals on a drakkar weren't great. –Cooking on an open fire was not practical on a wooden ship in choppy seas. –Food consisted of dried meat, freshly caught fish, sour milk, water, beer, nuts and cloudberries. –Spoiling was often a problem.

Viking Ships Parts 3 and 4

Nifty Tidbits Called it “Clinker” design from the sound the hammer made on the nails when mushrooming them on to the planks. The Mastfish was called that because it looked like a fish. Set the mast in place and let the crew pull it out.Mastfish

The Knarr

Size Much different from a Drakkar: – –Shorter – –Wide – –Better suited to carrying cargo such as cattle, wool, timber and wheat. Averages – –16 meters in length (48 feet) – –5 meters in width (15 feet) – –2 meters +(6 feet) high from keel to top of gunwale. *Draft of 1 meter (3 feet) – –*Depth in water. It could not navigate the shoals as well as the lighter longship.. Under full sail, it could travel at 10 knots.

Construction Same clinker method. Same clinker method. Oak was used for the keel and oak or pine for the planks. Oak was used for the keel and oak or pine for the planks. One mast with one square wool or linen sail. One mast with one square wool or linen sail. –The sail was stitched in the typical cross- hatched pattern. –Mast be taken down and stored like the longship's. It was permanently fixed to the keel. –Mast could not be taken down and stored like the longship's. It was permanently fixed to the keel. – Only had a couple of oars.

Crew Same kinds of sailors as the longship except that there were fewer rowers. Crewmen were needed –Steer the ship –Furl and unfurl the sails –Watch for shoals –Row. Because there were fewer oarsmen, rowing was done Because there were fewer oarsmen, rowing was done –When entering and leaving port –When docking. Deck of the knarr was higher above the water Deck of the knarr was higher above the water –Ship was rowed with the oarsmen standing up. –They took two steps forward to complete one full pull of an oar.

Haul cargo over long distances. Haul cargo over long distances. Well-suited for ocean travel. Well-suited for ocean travel. Because it was shorter, it was a better ship in rougher seas than the drakkar. Because it was shorter, it was a better ship in rougher seas than the drakkar. Leif Eriksson and other Viking explorers used a knarr for their voyages to North America. Leif Eriksson and other Viking explorers used a knarr for their voyages to North America. Farm animals and other cargo for sale or trade were placed in the middle of the knarr, sometimes under protective tarpaulins. Farm animals and other cargo for sale or trade were placed in the middle of the knarr, sometimes under protective tarpaulins. –For these reasons, could not row from amidships. –Rowing was done nearer the bow, stern, or both. Uses of the Knarr

Life Onboard a Knarr Triangular shaped spaces under the deck at both the bow and stern of the ship. Triangular shaped spaces under the deck at both the bow and stern of the ship. –Used by passengers for protection against unpleasant weather. –It was better than sharing sleeping space with the animals. Crew bailed a lot of water. Crew bailed a lot of water. No watertight decks or housing to make sea spray flow directly back into the ocean and no pumps to keep the water levels low. No watertight decks or housing to make sea spray flow directly back into the ocean and no pumps to keep the water levels low. –Water collected in the bottom of the ship and had to be constantly bailed out to keep it from sinking. –Bailing was mainly the job of children, if any were on board. (Like 7 th graders).

BERSERKERS BERSERKERS

The origin of the word “berserk” Used to name a type of Vikings fighter. – –When the longship neared a coastline, ten to fifteen warriors often dressed in bearskins, would move to the front of the ship and work themselves into a frenzy. – –Sometimes this was done by shouting battle whoops, sometimes it was done with the aid of hallucinogenic mushrooms. berserk As the longship neared a beach, these “berserkers" would go over the side, shouting and waving their swords in anticipation of a battle.

Going Berserk Their shouting and waving of their swords created fear in their enemies. Their shouting and waving of their swords created fear in their enemies. Their animal skins made them look like some kind of beast. Their animal skins made them look like some kind of beast. It took tremendous strength It took tremendous strength –Wearing the skins –Carrying battle swords (As much as 200 extra pounds of weight).

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some berserkers were so worked up, they jumped too soon and drowned in water over their heads. Some berserkers were so worked up, they jumped too soon and drowned in water over their heads. In our language, going "berserk" is taken from these fierce Viking warriors. It means "going crazy". In our language, going "berserk" is taken from these fierce Viking warriors. It means "going crazy".