Cinque Port merchant Vessel

[aukepalmhof]

The Cinque Ports were an association of, first of five towns in the South of England, and they were given privileges in exchange for providing ships during wars to the King of England
The Cinque Port association was formed before 1275.
The ship depicts on this souvenir sheet where owned by the Cinque Ports, the sails which carried the coat of arms of this ports as seen on the souvenir sheet is a fantasy of the designer, normally she carried sails without any coat of arms.

The ships were round bottomed with a fore and aft castle, during peace time she carried all sorts of goods and lifestock to and from the Cinque ports. During wartime she were required by the King and used as warships.
The length was around 20m, beam 5,5m, with a very shallow draught of around 1 metre.
Displacement around the 80 tons.
Steered by a large after fitted oar. (both stamps show a rudder)
Crew around 15 men, which increased when used as warship with around 70 soldiers.
She was one masted, the mast stepped in the amidships with a top.
Carried a square sail with a sail area of about 20 square meters.

Benin 1997 1000f sgMS1672, scott?
Kampuchea (Cambodia)1986 20c sg734, scott698.
Source: Sailing Ships by Bjorn Landstrom. And various web-sites.