Ships used by Portuguese navigators in the 15th and 16th centuries

This text brings together and compares the main types of ships used by Portuguese navigators in the 15th and 16th centuries — nau, caravel (and its variants) and galleon — highlighting their construction characteristics, types of sails, operational functions and uses in exploration, trade and warfare.

Reading it allows us to understand why each vessel was chosen for specific missions, from ocean cargo voyages to coastal reconnaissance and armed escort.

1. Difference between Nau, Caravel and Galeon (or ‘Galleons’)

This text clearly and succinctly presents the main differences between the nau, the caravel and the gales (or ‘galleons’), three types of vessels that marked the era of navigation.

Their construction characteristics, predominant uses and functions in exploration, trade and maritime warfare will be discussed, allowing us to understand why each model was chosen for specific missions.

1. Nau

Larger and more robust vessel.
Designed for long voyages and cargo transport.
Wider and deeper hull, ideal for cargo.
Used square and lateen sails.
Ideal for deep-sea navigation.

The Portuguese nau was a type of vessel used mainly during the 15th and 16th centuries, the era of the Great Navigations.

It was characterised by its sturdy hull and large cargo capacity, making it ideal for long ocean voyages. The naus were equipped with lateen sails and, later, square sails, allowing for better navigation in different winds.

These vessels were fundamental to Portuguese trade and maritime exploration, transporting goods, people and, in many cases, slaves.

2. Caravel

A smaller and more agile vessel.
Designed for exploration and coastal navigation.
Lighter and narrower hull, facilitating manoeuvring.
Mainly used lateen (triangular) sails.
Ideal for navigation in shallow waters and exploration of new routes.

3. Galleon (Gales, or ‘Galeões’)

Large vessel, a mixture of cargo ship and warship.
Mainly equipped with sails (usually square) as a source of propulsion.
It could also have oars — used for greater manoeuvrability, manoeuvres in ports and movement in combat when the wind was weak or unfavourable.
Armed and suitable for long routes and escorting fleets.

Difference between Square Sails and Lateen Sails

Square sails and lateen sails are two distinct types of sails historically used on ships, with different shapes and functions:

1. Square sails (or square rigs)

Shape: rectangular or square.
Positioning: mounted on horizontal yards perpendicular to the hull.
Use: common on ships and large transoceanic vessels.
Advantage: efficient with tailwinds, good for long crossings and easy to reduce in storms.
Limitation: not very efficient for sailing against the wind or at close angles to the wind.

2. Lateen sails

Shape: triangular (lateen).
Positioning: fixed to diagonal yards.
Use: common on caravels and Mediterranean and coastal vessels.
Advantage: allow sailing closer to the wind (better upwind course) and offer greater manoeuvrability.
Limitation: less powerful with tailwinds and require more careful manoeuvring on large masts.

In summary: round sails are great for speed with favourable winds and transport on the high seas; lateen sails favour manoeuvring and sailing in variable winds and coastal waters.

Ships used by Portuguese navigators in the 15th and 16th centuries

2. Ships used by Portuguese navigators in the 15th and 16th centuries

1. Barca

A small vessel used in the early voyages of maritime exploration. It was aboard a similar vessel that Gil Eanes first passed Cape Bojador in 1434.

Barca - Embarcação de pequeno porte, utilizada nas primeiras viagens de exploração marítima. Terá sido a bordo de uma embarcação semelhante que Gil Eanes passou pela primeira vez o cabo Bojador, em 1434. Barca - Navios dos Descobrimentos Portugueses dos Séculos XV e XVI — Barca – A small vessel used in the early voyages of maritime exploration. It was aboard a similar vessel that Gil Eanes first passed Cape Bojador in 1434.

2. ‘Caravelão’

It is not easy to characterise this type of ship due to the scarcity of information about it.

Existing sources indicate that it was a support vessel with a lateen rig, very similar to the lateen caravel. The texts also suggest that the caravelão was generally smaller than the caravel.

"Caravelão" - A caracterização deste tipo de navio não é muito fácil face à escassez de elementos sobre o mesmo. As fontes existentes indiciam que se tratava de uma embarcação de apoio, com armação latina, bastante semelhante à caravela latina. Os textos apontam também para que o caravelão teria geralmente dimensões inferiores às da caravela. "Caravelão" - Navios dos Descobrimentos Portugueses dos Séculos XV e XVI. — It is not easy to characterise this type of ship due to the scarcity of information about it. Existing sources indicate that it was a support vessel with a lateen rig, very similar to the lateen caravel. The texts also suggest that the caravelão was generally smaller than the caravel.

3. Fishing boat

A small coastal fishing vessel used for the first maritime exploration voyages. In ancient chronicles, this vessel is also referred to as a ‘fishing caravel’.

Barca Pescareza - Pequena embarcação de pesca costeira e que serviu para as primeiras viagens de exploração marítima. Nas crónicas antigas, esta embarcação é também referida como "caravela pescareza". Navios dos Descobrimentos Portugueses dos Séculos XV e XVI. — Fishing boat – A small coastal fishing vessel used for the first maritime exploration voyages. In ancient chronicles, this vessel is also referred to as a ‘fishing caravel’.

4. Three-masted lateen caravel

This was an evolution of the two-masted caravel, which appeared at the end of the 15th century.

Caravela latina de 3 mastros - Resulta da evolução da caravela de 2 mastros, tendo surgido no final do século XV. Navios dos Descobrimentos Portugueses dos Séculos XV e XVI. — Three-masted lateen caravel – This was an evolution of the two-masted caravel, which appeared at the end of the 15th century.

5. 16th-century round caravel

Round caravels, or ‘armada caravels’, were ships that usually accompanied fleets. They had three or four masts, with a round sail on the foremast and lateen sails on the others.

The square sail allowed them to perform similarly to other ships in the armada when sailing on a running course, taking advantage of the prevailing winds, while the lateen sail allowed them to maintain the characteristics of lateen caravels, with the possibility of sailing close-hauled and, therefore, with greater manoeuvrability.

Caravela redonda do século XVI - As caravelas redondas, ou "caravelas da armada", eram navios que acompanhavam geralmente as armadas. Tinham três ou quatro mastros, armando pano redondo no traquete e pano latino nos restantes. O pano redondo permitia-lhes ter um desempenho semelhante aos restantes navios da armada, quando navegavam em rota corrida, aproveitando os ventos predominantes, enquanto o pano latino permitia manter as características das caravelas latinas, com possibilidade de navegar à bolina e, portanto, com maior capacidade de manobra. Navios dos Descobrimentos Portugueses dos Séculos XV e XVI. — 16th-century round caravel – Round caravels, or ‘armada caravels’, were ships that usually accompanied fleets. They had three or four masts, with a round sail on the foremast and lateen sails on the others. The square sail allowed them to perform similarly to other ships in the armada when sailing on a running course, taking advantage of the prevailing winds, while the lateen sail allowed them to maintain the characteristics of lateen caravels, with the possibility of sailing close-hauled and, therefore, with greater manoeuvrability.

6. Nau ‘São Gabriel’

The ship ‘São Gabriel’ was one of the four ships in the fleet that, in 1497, began the first voyage to India, via the Cape of Good Hope, with Vasco da Gama as captain-major.

Nau "São Gabriel" - A nau "São Gabriel" era um dos quatro navios da armada que, em 1497, iniciou a primeira viagem com destino à Índia, pelo Cabo da Boa Esperança, levando Vasco da Gama, como capitão-mor. Navios dos Descobrimentos Portugueses dos Séculos XV e XVI. — Nau “São Gabriel” – The ship ‘São Gabriel’ was one of the four ships in the fleet that, in 1497, began the first voyage to India, via the Cape of Good Hope, with Vasco da Gama as captain-major.

7. Galleon

The galleon is a sailing ship specially designed for warfare, which appeared in the early 16th century. It was intended to protect merchant ships, as well as for military actions to maintain or impose Portuguese sovereignty, both in the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.

Galeão - O galeão é um navio de vela especialmente concebido para a guerra, que surge no início do século XVI. Destinava-se à proteção das naus de viagem, assim como ações militares de manuntenção ou imposição de soberania portuguesa, tanto no Atlântico como no Índico. Navios dos Descobrimentos Portugueses dos Séculos XV e XVI. — Galleon – The galleon is a sailing ship specially designed for warfare, which appeared in the early 16th century. It was intended to protect merchant ships, as well as for military actions to maintain or impose Portuguese sovereignty, both in the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.

8. Nau Taforeia

The ‘Taforeia’ is a ship designed to transport horses, and is mentioned in various 15th-century documents that recount the war actions in North Africa. In the 16th century, taforeias, similar in size and characteristics to ships, were also used in the Indian Ocean as warships.