Galleon
A galleon was a Sailing ship S with several bridges used in Europe and particularly in Spain of the 16th century at the 18th century.
Having from 3 to 5 Mast S, it constitutes an evolution of the Caraque, into which characteristics of the caravel are introduced, as the poop Carré E which supplants that round the caraques ones. The hull is lengthened and more fine, which makes it faster and the lowering of the castle makes it more stable while decreasing the weight in the tops. It is, on the other hand, generally smaller than the caraque one, of which some exceeded 1000 ton S; the galleons were generally in lower part of the 500 tons, though larger existed.
Like the caraques ones, the galleons were used as well for the Commerce as for military uses. They could be armed or not in the course of career for one or the other with these functions. They, however, tended to supplant the caraques ones for the Guerre because of their higher performances. They were armed most of the time by Half-couleuvrine S, though higher gauges, like the Demi-canon, were embarked.
The galleons were built in Chêne (for the skittle), in pine (for the masts) and others hard Bois for the hull and the bridges. The construction of a galleon was extremely expensive. Hundreds of Artisan S experts (Carpenter S, Blacksmith S, Wet cooper S, etc) worked Nuit and Jour during Mois before the ship can set sail. The galleons were consequently often financed by groups of commercial rich person. This is why the majority of the galleons were assigned to the trade. When a ship was captured by a rival power, it was armed for the war.
Because of the duration spent in Sea and difficult living conditions on board, complex systems of handling of gréement were developed, in such a way that the ship can be led by a fraction only of the crew.
The England, in the last quarter of the 16th century, starts to produce more powerful galleons for the Combat with the gun. The castles postpones lowered and increased surfaces of aerofoil, get to them larger Speed compared to the Spanish models . Moreover, the Artillerie of larger Caliber is higher in range. These are the ships which will push back the Invincible Armada. At the beginning of the Century according to, their size will increase and their aerofoil will develop to give rise to the linerships.
The galleon was used until the beginning of the 19th century, at the moment when the Clipper and the Linership made it obsolete.
Note
In the world of Harry Potter, a galleon is a gold coin.
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