From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Viking ship is a collective term for ships used during the Viking Age (800-1100) in Northern Europe. The ships are normally divided into classes based on size and function:

Contents 1 Types of Ship 1.1 Longship 1.2 Knaar 1.3 Smaller Vessels 2 Preserved ships 3 See also 4 External links

Main article: 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 1996/7. This ship is approximately 36m long and was built in the mid-11th century.

Main article: Knaar

The Knaar was a cargo vessel with a length of about 54 feet (16m), a beam of 15 feet (4.5m), and a hull capable of carrying 15 tons. Knaarer 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.

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.

Only a few Viking ships have been excavated and preserved, the most famous of these are:

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

• Cog (ship)

• 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
• 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