galleon

galleon oceangoing warship used by the European naval powers in the 15th and 16th cent. A large, cumbersome vessel, the galleon was three-masted and square-rigged, usually with two decks, and with its main batteries in broadsides. Galleons were much used to transport treasure and other cargo from the Americas, particularly by Spanish and Portuguese traders. The military disadvantage of the typical galleon was shown clearly in the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588), when unwieldy Spanish galleons were outmaneuvered by the lighter, swifter English vessels constructed by John Hawkins .

galleon A sailing warship of the late 16th century. Galleons eventually replaced the less manoeuvrable carracks as the principal type of European trading ship. From the designs of Sir John HAWKINS, English galleons were the first to develop the characteristic beaked prow and modestly sized forecastle. These features were later incorporated in the great Spanish and Portuguese galleons which were used for overseas trade. In particular, ‘plate fleets’ of Spanish and Portuguese galleons brought large quantities of gold and silver from the Americas to Europe during the 16th and early 17th centuries. Spain continued to use galleons until the late 17th century.

galleon, a development of the carrack following the successful experiments of Sir John Hawkins at the end of the 16th century. This new design, which made a ship much more weatherly and manoeuvrable, reached Spain about seventeen years after its introduction in England. Its arrival resulted in the development of the galleon. It was originally a warship but during the next 30 to 40 years it also began to take the place of the carrack as the principal type of merchantman. Most 17th-century treasure ships were galleons. Although the design was essentially English, the actual name was never adopted in England or among the north European nations.