Photos from museum of artillery

[fernando]

[Marc]

Well, the word "verga" (eng. "yard", not the unit of length but the spar on a mast from which sails are set) has also a naval origin...



Hmm... there's that distinct feeling of a Ban Hammer looming in the horizon...

[celtan]

Yes, verga is a piece of wood. So, the title "Countess of Vergara" implies she was a noblewoman in a woody land....



M


BTW: In Spain, a batel was an early type of medieval boat/small ship with a roundish, wide bottom, I believe they were known as cockles in the English world?

Originally Posted by Marc

Well, the word "verga" (eng. "yard", not the unit of length but the spar on a mast from which sails are set) has also a naval origin...



Hmm... there's that distinct feeling of a Ban Hammer looming in the horizon...

[fernando]

Originally Posted by celtan

... In Spain, a batel was an early type of medieval boat/small ship with a roundish, wide bottom, I believe they were known as cockles in the English world?

In the discoveries context, the batel was the largest of the boats carried aboard ships. It could carry several men, manoeuvered by oar or sail, and was used for several heavy duty services, like taking personel ashore, bring the water barrels aboard, engage in battle, do exploitation or fighting incursions up rivers, and even tow the ships when the wind was weak or absent, or from an incovenient direction. In the battle of Ormuz (Afonso de Albuquerque 1507) the bateis were used to tow the ships to the vicinity of the enemy's (Turks) vessels, for close quarters bombardment and consequent boarding. They were often carried inside the ships, near the main mast; in the case of smaller ships (caravels), bateis were often carried sideways ( board to board) and upside down, between the mast and the stern.
The smaller boats aboard (or towed) were the esquifes, operated by four or six oarsmen, and only used for small tasks, including the transportation of some person, like taking a captain to the admiral ship, for a meeting.
Fernando

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Marc

Well, the word "verga" (eng. "yard", not the unit of length but the spar on a mast from which sails are set) has also a naval origin...



Hmm... there's that distinct feeling of a Ban Hammer looming in the horizon...

Vergas could be huge ... i mean, ship's vergas (spars) .
I don't know whether French adventurer Pyrard de Laval (1575-1652) was exagerating when, at describing the Portuguese naus of the India route as being the largest ships afloat, quoted their spars as measuring twenty four fathoms, needing two hundred men to lift them ... and with the support of two powerfull capstans.
How's that?

[Marc]

So, what you are stating is that the Portugese are the ones who have the biggest ver... err... spars?
Big words, there. I hope you have something to show us in order to back them up!


Please, someone stop me...

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Marc

... Big words, there. I hope you have something to show us in order to back them up!

Your'e right; big words ... only. Nothing to show anymore; that's long gone .

[Marc]

Originally Posted by fernando

Your'e right; big words ... only. Nothing to show anymore; that's long gone .

You tell me...

But what was hanging from these... spars... made them build one of the biggest and greatest commercial empires the world has seen. And I mean the sails, of course.

On a more serious note, I always admired, sincerely, how they managed, given their demographics.

And I better stop now with the plays on words...

Best,

Marc

[Spiridonov]

Collection of museum of artillery in Saint-Petersberg has greatly increased. Some things was removed. I was able to measure one barrel and make quality photos of them. Total length is 1925 mm, calibre is 105 mm: