Historical ship question

[ShadownINja]

Before cannonballs/gun powder, how did ships battle? I've tried googling but am not sure what to search for!

[Lurking Lawyer]

Archers, with fire arrows.

Or just ramming. The Romans did a nice line in triremes with long steel-clad rams which they would row at full tilt into the opposition.

[ErnestM]

Google "Battle of Salamis"

Basically, they rammed one another with a huge metal covered spike out the bow...



They also lofted "greek fire" and other combustibles.

It was a very nasty business.

[Pigeon]

Also "board and storm" ie. coming close enough to hook the other ship with grapples, jump on board and hack the other buggers up with swords (while trying not to get hacked up themselves).

[ShadownINja]

Thanks! I recalled they used the ram; just wondered about longer distances. Will poke google.

[Ayahuasca]

Like this:




The English were beating the French at sea way before cannon. Battle of Sluys, 1340.