Above: Dutch Ships Ramming Spanish Galleys off the Flemish Coast in October 1602, by Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom, Public Domain.

Human muscle powered galleys were the pinnacle of sea power for most of human history. They were able to cross the Mediterranean in a matter of days, bringing news and transporting soldiers and precious cargoes. They had the decisive advantage over sailing ships in combat, as they could manoeuvre independently of the wind’s direction. This advantage was lost with the introduction of ship mounted artillery, the increased importance of Atlantic trade, and the development of the galleon…

Please note: This talk will be preceded by a short AGM for the group.

Date: Wednesday 8th April 2026
Time: 19:30 to 21:00
Location: Lancaster Maritime Museum
£4 donation to Lancashire MCS requested
Everybody Welcome

Poster: Evolution of the Battleship (part 2) (271kB PDF)