Carrack (/kɛrɪk/)

Developed almost simultaneously by Dotharan and Artenesian shipbuilders, the carrack is a sailing vessel that has quickly become the most common type of ship in the known world. Though with the construction of more capable sailing ships in recent decades has seen the carrack begin to be replaced by Galleons, and Men o' War, the carrack remains by far the favored type of vessel for most navies, and most shipping companies and guilds. Carracks come in many shapes and sizes, though most operators prefer their Carracks with a displacement of 250-500 tonnes, with holds carrying between 175 and 250 tonnes. The typical Carrack in the known world is a well rounded, versatile ship with reasonable armament, modest speed, and a large cargo hold for its size. Many individual owners of Carracks modify their vessels extensively to suit more specified roles, including bulk cargo haulers, dedicated warships, smuggling or pirate ships, or even, rarely, passenger carriers.
The general plan of a Carrack calls for a moderately proportioned vessel with a sizable forecastle and sterncastle. Most posses three distinct decks, not counting the quarter deck and upper forecastle. The top deck, often called the gun deck is, unsurprisingly the main deck carrying the ship's armament. The second deck, often called the main deck is possesses the galley, the armory and magazine, most of the living space in the ship, and almost any other auxiliary facilities installed by the owner of the vessel during or after its construction. The bottom deck, the hold is the primary cargo storage for the ship, though many captains convert some of this space into additional space for passengers. Generally, carracks possess all the usual amenities of a modern sailing ship, cargo cranes, ship's boats, modest armament, and a reasonable amount of space for a ship's surgeon.
The primary builders of Carracks in the known world are the shipyards in the Tealestrian Sea and Yulan Ocean, particularly within the Dotharan Alliance, Republic of Artenos, Republic of Nikea, and Exarchate of Korentis, though most shipyards in southern Galisea and Northern Felora are capable of building Carracks. The Dotharans and Artenesians have, after a century learning shipbuilding techniques built their own unique styles of Carrack. The Dotharans, have much like many earlier Feloran ships made some of the fastest carracks in the known world capable of transiting the Tealestrian Sea in less than a week in ideal conditions, though sometimes sacrificing a well armed forecastle to cut down on the bulk of the ship. The Artenesians, having become the primary naval warfare architects in the Aeillan Successor States have built their carracks to be particularly hardy, and packing extra weapons into their hulls by default.

Propulsion

The Carrack is propelled in the water by its sails. Carracks are typically, and especially in the case of Feloran Carracks Lanteen rigged, though square rigging is not uncommon. Carracks generally have three masts, the mizzenmast, the mainmast, and the foremast. The mizzenmast, located and anchored into the sterncastle is almost always lanteen rigged, and is generally used to help steer the ship. The mainmast is the largest, and provides much of the carrack's sailing capability. The foremast is often anchored in the hold, though forecastle anchored foremasts aren't unheard of, and hold both its own sails and the bowsprit sails except for the rare carrack with a bowsprit topsail. In addition to the sails the carrack is steered by a rudder located at the stern of the ship.

Weapons & Armament

Carracks tend to be moderately well armed for a ship of their size, being one of the earliest adopters of a guns focused design. As a result most of the ship's firepower comes from its guns. Carracks are almost always armed with relatively light culverins, most of which are located either on the gun deck or in the fore or sterncastles. Carracks built with the expectation of being in combat also have swivel guns which are usually intended to clear the decks of hostile ships, though many merchant ships forgo these light weapons. It is very rare for a carrack to mount proper cannon, but those that do (called hunter carracks in Felora, and siege carracks in Galisea) are often very powerful components of the smaller navies in the known world.

Armor and defense

Carracks tend not to be especially well armored, possessing simple wooden hulls with little extra reinforcement. Most carracks can stand up to light damage fairly well, and can handle themselves in combat with equal opponents, but will struggle against purpose built warships. Some carracks, especially those built as warships, and particularly coming from Artenesian shipbuilders tend to be better protected with moderately reinforced hulls, capable of surviving several hits from culverins or a few volleys from cannon before becoming severely compromised. A rare few are magically reinforced, but only the wealthiest of buyers can afford such an expensive process, and this is to be considered rare at best.

Retábulo de Santa Auta polyptych by Unknown

Price

Varies (Usually 25,000-45,000 Gold Coin)

Rarity

Common

Related Technologies

• Gunpowder in Getninia

Width

Varies (Usually 9-10m (25-30 ft))

Length

Varies (Usually 45m - 60m (150-200 ft), discounting bowsprit)

Height

Varies (Usually 18m - 40m (60-130ft))

Weight

Varies (Usually 226-453 tonnes (250-500 short tons))

Speed

Generally capable of 8kn under moderate conditions

Complement / Crew

Typically 40-100

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Varies (Usually 159-181 tonnes (175- 200 short tons))