MOC: A Medieval Ship - The Blue Dragon

[SuvieD]

Check out this MOC I found on BShelf.

Blue Dragon

That is a lovely pre imperial era ship.

[Aredhel]

Nice find SuvieD! That is a really nice ship.

[Evil Willy]

Ooo nice very nice indeed! thanks for shareing suvie :D how are those castle figures I sent you?

[snefroe]

i would have prefered another color instead of blue. i think you can only use lots of blue bricks on space ships. i feel it just doesn't look very good for anything else...

[Mister Phes]

Is this intended to be a Castle or Viking MOC?

[snefroe]

Is this intended to be a Castle or Viking MOC?

i guess you're refering to the battlements on the ship. Early war ships used to have this type of defence, however, i would replace the blue parts by brown parts from for instance, Fort Legoredo. after all, it's supposed to be wood and i don't think a war ship would be going to war in "flashy" colours...

[Mister Phes]

As correct as you are Count Sneffy, being does make a change from the usual brown you'd be expecting. Or I'd be expecting anyway.

[Sting]

Cool Ship! I love the roof and dark bley/gray that it has! That REALLY makes me want to see a good non juni0rized castle sets again! And most importantly a NAVAL Castle theme...

If not at least lets get some System Pirates back! WHat a shame it will never, EVER, happen!

[Mister Phes]

Never say never Mr Sting!

When I begin my MOCing career I'll probably design MOCs in the style of the SYSTEM Pirate sets.

[Norro]

I like the large crossbow... I can't spell it's real name due to tiredness and lack of education...

God Bless,

Nathan

[gylman]

Ballista.

[Mister Phes]

Balistas weren't common upon ships were they? I've toyed with the idea (in my mind) however, but I don't think it would be appropriate for a pirate ship. A medieval LEGO ship however, well we can look at the example here and decide for ourselves.

Has there been any historic findings of ballistas used on ships?

[SlyOwl]

Hmm...I knew I'd seen this ship somewhere before...Audi T.W. has entered it into the IMTP competition...

Has there been any historic findings of ballistas used on ships?

The Romans most certainly used them on their ships, and therefore, before the widespread use of gunpowder, we can assume they were commonly used aboard many ships, as a long range sniper, given that there were no significant technological improvements in artillery between the fall of the Rome and the discovery of a rather dangerous black powder... *sweet*

[TheFrisian]

It looks to me like a really big brother of 6057 Sea Serpent, which would also explain the blue color. I think it's a great MOC which fits the Black Knights theme very nicely! *sweet*

[goggleson]

I liked all those slaves rowing and everyone on board.good idea of how many people would be onboard. unlike the new castle skelly ship :-X

[Cardinal Brick]

Has there been any historic findings of ballistas used on ships?

I don't think there were after the fall of Rome, there might have been a few but not on a large scape. After Rome sea battles were moslty land battles that happened to be on a ship. During the Hundred years war the only really ship born weapon were the arrows which were designed to rip through sails.

History aside that's a really nice ship, I like the way it seems a logical progression from the sea serpent to a larger warship and the use of oars is a good idea or it would be rather problamaitc in combat.

[SlyOwl]

I don't think there were after the fall of Rome, there might have been a few but not on a large scape. After Rome sea battles were moslty land battles that happened to be on a ship. During the Hundred years war the only really ship born weapon were the arrows which were designed to rip through sails.

Incidentally, Roman/Greek/Carthiginian sea battles were "land battles" at sea, the main tactic consisting of charging across a plank to attack the enemy on the other ship and hopefully kill the rowers. Arrows from ballistas and bows were used to pick of individuals, but this wasn't so effective once Roman "tortoise" formations became common. Sometimes fire arrows and incendinary missiles would be launched, but fire could easily spread between two fouled ships. However, they would use a large spike on the front of the ship (as seen in this one) to ram the other ship and try to sink it.

These tactics recurred in naval warfare until the 13th century, when gunpowder first came over from China. Little record of them exists because few sea battles took place during the Dark Ages (historical, not Lego X-D ), the majority of warfare happening on land. This is shown by the Vikings and Normans; they did not need to arm their ships because they were rarely attacked. Ballistas were still the dominant "terror" weapon until the 14th century, however, because uses for gunpowder had not been developed fully. The invention of the crossbow provided a bridge between ancient and modern weaponry.

When gunpowder first appeared, it was used in rockets. The Chinese used these at sea to panic the enemy, although they did little damage. Later, when muskets and cannons came about, they were still used on land until the very late 14th century, due to their weight. In the 15th century as sailors put on their sea boots again to visit the Americas, they were gradually adapted for naval warfare, and were in their element during the 16th and 17th centuries. Come the 18th century, and the cannon was largely obsolete because peace reigned over much of the world and so seiges were rare. By this stage land tactics had evolved into faster moving affairs and so the musket and pistol took the place as the main weapon. Early 19th century and the machine gun and airplane brought about modern warfare.

Another method of warfare was developed by Hannibal himself, after his fighting days were over. As the Romans were dominating the Carthiginian ships at sea, they badly needed inspiration, and so the master of tactics himself set to work. Now, what could be more terrifying to bare-bodied men than snakes? Clay pots containing snakes were thrown onto the Roman ships, causing panic and confusion. The Carthiginians then sailed away or picked off the men with arrows.

Just a brief history of naval warfare ;-)