Carrack

The Carrack (derived from Flam. " Kraeck " [ kra ː k]) was a sailing vessel type of the late Middle Ages and the early modern period. The type of ship first appeared in the first half of the 14th century in Genoa as " carraca " on and was widely used until the early 17th century. It was used both as a commercial as well as a warship.

Development and typology

The carrack evolved from the Nef and the caravel. In the second half of the 15th century, it was similar to the Spanish-Portuguese ship type Nao and the Nordic Hulk. They also resembled the caravel, but was considerably larger and heavier. The length could be up to about 40 m and the load capacity of up to 500 tons. Thus, the carrack was in the western world probably the largest type of ship time.

The carrack was a three-master, in the 16th century and four master, whose hull was planked in Kraweelbauweise. Typical features that can vary, however, are:

• Bowsprit with the blind (s)
• Foremast with a square sail
• Mainmast with one or two square sails
• Mizzen mast with lateen
• Bulbous shape of the hull and Rundgatt
• Beaked nose
• Vertical struts on the lateral outer hull ( bularcamas )
• Forecastle
• Zweideckiges stern castle

The majority of shipping in the early explorers age ( 15-16. Century) between Spain and Portugal on the one hand and America and the East Indies on the other hand was settled with carracks and caravels.

Known carracks

• Grace Dieu ( 1418 ), flagship of Henry V of England, an unusually large transition type from Nef to carrack.
• Santa Anna ( 1522), studded with lead plates warship of St John, which has been successfully used in the defense against the Ottomans.
• Santa Maria, flagship of Christopher Columbus, but which is referred to in his diaries only as Nao.
• Jesus of Lubeck, was purchased by Henry VIII in Lübeck for the Royal Navy