Galleon.
The word conjures a specific image in our minds, even
though it represents the epitome of a fighting ship from
a bygone era. This beautifully illustrated book explores
the design and development of the galleons, their
technical specifications, and the differences between
their armament and the men who manned them. Lardas also
examines and analyzes three specific engagements – Golden
Hind’s encounter with Nuestro Señora de
la Concepción, San Mateo
during the Battle of Gravelines, and Revenge
against five of Spain’s Twelve Apostles – to
show how these warships were used and their
effectiveness as fighting machines. However, to fully
grasp their significance in world affairs, it is first
essential to understand the relationship between Spain
and England in the sixteenth century.
Spain stands at
the zenith of her power. England, on the other hand, is
just beginning her long trek to dominate the maritime
world and become a superpower. Spain’s reach extends far
beyond its European borders and the riches of its
colonial empire entice other countries to seek their own
wealth and property in distant lands. The need to
protect and the yearning for great treasure requires
shipwrights to devise vessels that can travel far
distances, carry large cargoes, and defend themselves
against raiders.
These must-haves
lead to the galleon, a new class of warship that can
cross oceans and deliver broadsides to any who dare
attack them. What distinguishes a galleon from her
predecessors is that she has multiple decks, including a
lower gun deck, and three or four masts capable of
carrying square and lateen sails. She has high fore- and
sterncastles, but she is not always a large ship. Each
is financed by a syndicate, rather than a navy, and she
is built to carry cargo even though she is well-armed
and has the power to seriously damage an opponent’s
hull. Spain’s galleon and England’s race-built galleon
are sturdy vessels that can survive tumultuous seas and
weather, but hazards and shipboard life remain dangerous
to a man’s health. Magellan leaves Spain in 1519 with
270 men; when his ship returns home, only eighteen
remain alive, but Magellan is not one of them. Drake’s
1577 expedition
consists of 150 men, of which only about one third
survive.
This comparison
between Spanish and English galleons concludes with a
brief summary of why they faded from use and how we pay
homage to them today with replicas. In addition, Lardas
provides a bibliography, index, and chronology of
historical events from Christopher Columbus’s landfall
in the Bahamas in 1492 until Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa’s
death in 1608. Contemporary artwork, color photographs,
paintings, maps, and diagrams are found on nearly every
page, while special highlights are scattered throughout
to provide further investigation into specific subjects,
such as cannon, how a galleon maneuvered, navigation,
and two ships – the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
and the Golden Hind – and two captains – Sir
Francis Drake and Sarmiento de Gamboa.
Most books about galleons focus on Spanish
vessels, but Lardas provides a clear, concise, and
well-encapsulated overview of the differences and
similarities between both nations’ ships. The narrative
is enlightening, easy to read, and engaging. The
highlighted engagements between the ships are an added
bonus that provide readers with a good understanding of
the differences in fighting techniques and the dynamics
of their evolution. This is an excellent introduction to
galleons, as well as a first-class addition to any
maritime collection.
Review Copyrighted ©2021 Cindy
Vallar
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