[PnP] The Athenian Trireme

[Alex Koponen]

For those folks interested in P&P sailing craft the 2nd edition of The
Athenian Trireme is an excellent resource. I got it through interlibrary
loan for a few more days. It is about the history and reconstruction of an
ancient Greek Trireme and has some data on other concurrent ship designs.
By Morrison, Coates and Rankov, it is published by Cambridge University
Press.

  Some data I've found:
  Crew of 200 (172 of them oarsmen) was one of the main reasons it was so
much more expensive than earlier ship designs. But it's speed and
maneuverability (turns 3 degrees per second) meant it dominated the seas
for hundreds of years until later designs with more than one person per
oar were built.
  Cruises at ~5 knots when rowed with a maximum of ~9 knots. Rowing into a
stiff wind might be as slow as 1/2 knot. One long voyage in history must
have averaged 9 knots...I expect that the wind was helpful on that
occasion.
Under sail it is safe and stable in winds up to 25 knots and can do 2 to
10 knots depending upon the wind. Wind sufficient to move it faster would
probably swamp it. A days voyage when rowed may be 60 sea miles (110 km).

  A trireme could carry an additional extra 30 soldiers but the weight
would reduce its speed and maneuverability.
  Older triremes sometimes were converted into transports and troop
carriers. After conversion they could carry 30 horses but would only have
60 oarsmen..