Public Blueprints Article

Viking Ships and their Conquest

Viking ship models are constructed after the manner of ancient
Viking ships. Interestingly enough, most models are based on
actual ships that were found buried at different places in
Scandinavia (they were used as burial ships for prominent and
important people). Many Viking ship models are based after the
ship found near Oslo, called the Gokstad. It is possible to
build a model replica of this ship, as well as the ship known as
the Oseberg ship, which is also a very popular model. These two
ships have actual been reconstructed in full size, and sailed on
the ocean, as well as built in half size models and popularly
produced in smaller model kits.

One of the most striking characteristics of Viking ship models
is the fact that they are so long, and have such a shallow
draft. They are very narrow, and the sail is not so big as many
of the more elegant ships based on American or European design.
However, all Viking ship models are based on ships that were
made before the year 1,000 C.E., and this is part of the reason
that Viking ships are considered so amazing. They were able to
range over the world’s oceans, and were very effective as
merchant ships and as war ships.

The narrow and long quality of Viking ship models clearly
illustrate one of the most devastating facts of Viking conquest:
the fact that a Viking ship could sail right up to and then land
on the beach. While most other ships were required to wait off
shore while smaller boats conveyed warriors to the beach, a
Viking ship could beach on the shore, resulting in more
efficient landings. Looking at Viking ship models also brings to
mind an image of swiftness. Indeed, the ships were fast on the
water, possibly traveling as fast as 15 knots.

Even the merchant ships make great Viking ship models. These
look similar to the long ships that were used as war and raiding
ships, but had a wider deck and a larger cargo hold (on Viking
ship models, like the original ships, the cargo hold is situated
in the middle of the ship). This type of ship is called a knarr,
and it was built for seaworthiness, and did not travel as fast
as the other ships. However, it is considered likely that Eric
the Red used this type of ship for his Atlantic voyages that
brought him to the North American continent.