MEDITERRANEAN GALEASS
The design appears to have been taken from drawing 340 on page 136 in “the ship” a reconstruction of an Italian drawing of a galleass dated 1669. It’s dimensions have been calculated to be 164’ stem to stern and 42½‘in breadth. It was propelled by 300 – 350 oarsmen on 50 oars, and carried about 20 guns.
Source: Watercraft Philately 1978 page 15.
Aak to Zumbra a Dictionary of the World’s Watercraft gives on the Mediterranean galleass:
Developed toward the end of the 15th century from the Venetian galeazza as a large and heavy oared sailing vessel. Some conducted naval excursions into the Atlantic. Some built on the northwest coast of Spain. Distinguished from the galley by its decking, a type of grating that covered the rowers; this decking made handling the sails and launching weapons easier since the galleass was more heavily armed than the ordinary galley. High poop, raised deck forward; recurved or a ram beak at the bow; square stern. Mostly three masted, setting all lateen sails or a combination of square and lateen. Rowed with 3-7 men to an oar, 25 – 32 oars per side, requiring as many as 343 rowers. In addition, there would be ca 120 sailors and perhaps 170 soldiers. Reported lengths 47 – 80m; length-to-beam ratio ca 5:1.
Bulgaria 1977 43st sg2602 scott2436.