Zabra
Azabra(zah-brə) was a small or midsized sailing vessel used off the coasts of Spain and Portugal to carry goods by sea from the 13th century until the mid-16th century; they were well-armed to defend themselves againstpiratesandcorsairs.
Early Iberian documentary sources, such as theEstoria de España,[1]refer to their use by theMoorsand from about 1500 onwards a fleet of zabras developed in the coastal trade ofCantabriaon theCantabrian Sea,and fishermen began using them to exploit the fisheries of Ireland and North America.[2]These zabras were fast, square-rigged row-sailers with two masts; they were rowed with 14 to 18 oars and had atonnageof between 20 and 60 tons. Their ratio of beam to length was 1: 3.75–4.0.[3]The smallest zabras had only a half deck or apoop deck,but the larger ones were covered with aflush deck.
Because of their excellent handling qualities, and despite their modest size, they were frequently used by theCrown of Castilefor the transport of money and soldiers toFlanders,as well as in transatlantic voyages.[2][4]
Zabras were used for exploration, reconnaissance and the dispatch of messages,[5]and also for guarding the coasts and landfall areas that were of interest to the Crown and its overseas empire. Zabras were navigated and maneuvered under sail, and earlier versions could also be rowed by oarsmen.[3]They were armed for both commerce and warfare. Although designed for use in theCantabrian Sea,zabras were used in theMediterranean Seafor Spain's Naples campaigns in theItalian Warsof1495and1500,and in 1534 against theBarbary pirate,Barbarossa,the admiral of theOttoman fleet.
Zabras made the transatlantic crossing between America and Spain in 30 days or less and could transport an average of about 100 tons of cargo in their holds. These two characteristics, speed and load capacity, in addition to their armaments, made them ideal substitutes for the ships of the Spanish treasure fleets,West Indies Fleets(Flota de Indias), when those ships could not make the annual crossing due to lack of time, danger of enemy attacks or some other cause.
Characteristics
[edit]Similar in shape to abrigantine,the zabra wassquare-riggedwith alateenmizzen sail and had six banks of oars. While sails were necessary for crossing the Atlantic and traveling long distances, oars allowed for better maneuverability in the absence of wind, for ascending rivers, or for quickly escaping combat in shallow waters. They also allowed the main ship of an expedition to remain at a discrete distance offshore while the smaller ship reconnoitered an enemy port. Zabras often functioned as courier vessels and providedlogisticalsupport to the fleets as well.[6]Several dozen zabras were used in postal and commercial traffic on theBay of Biscayunder the patronage of the Almirantazgo, the Spanish Admiralty.[4]
Zabras evolved under the influence of galleon design, becoming stouter, with theforecastleremoved and leaving abeakheadforward; the sides began to be covered with sentry boxes, the redoubts forward and aftward were fortified, and the hull lines further refined. Their tonnage increased, reaching 600 tons, and their guns and crew were increased as well.
With a typicalgross tonnageof between 80 and 170 tons, zebras had elongated and flat hulls with fine lines, a marked sheer and a pronouncedtumblehomethat made thebeamat deck-level much narrower than at thewaterline.The ratio of beam to length was 1: 3.75–4.0.[3]
Zabras had fullsquare riggingwith a sprit-sail on thebowsprityard,foresailsor foretopsails on theforemast,mainsailsandtopsailson the mainmast, and alateen sailon the mizzen yard. They were very suitable for mail runs, reconnaissance and exploration missions; zabras typically mounted 10 guns and the crew usually did not exceed 60 men.
Examples
[edit]Santiago,the largest zabra of the thirteen assembled for theSpanish Armadain 1588, mounted 19 guns and carried a crew of 40 sailors and 60 soldiers.[7]Juliawas the smallest zabra of the Armada, along withAugusta.Juliabore 14 pieces, was crewed by 72 mariners, and had 44 soldiers on board.[8][note 1]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Eero Kalervo Neuvonen (1941).Los arabismos del español en el siglo XIII.Sociedad de Literatura Finesa. p. 225.
- ^abJosé Luis Casado Soto (1991)."Los barcos del Atlántico ibérico en el siglo de los descubrimientos: Aproximación a la definición de su perfil tipológico"[The Ships of the Iberian Atlantic in the Age of Discovery: An Approach to Defining its Typological Profile].Actas de las IX Jornadas de Andalucía y América(in Spanish). Seville: 139.Retrieved20 September2020.
- ^abcSergio Bellabarba (3 October 2016)."31. The Sailing Qualities of Venetian Great Galleys in the 15th Century Evidence of their Influence on the Development of Sailing Ships in the Atlantic Area during the Following Century".In Beltrame, Carlo (ed.).Boats, Ships and Shipyards: Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Boat and Ship Archaeology, Venice 2000.Oxbow Books. p. 208.ISBN978-1-78570-464-2.
- ^abStradling, R. A. (2003).The Armada of Flanders: Spanish Maritime Policy and European War, 1568-1668.Cambridge University Press. p. 123.ISBN978-0-521-52512-1.
- ^Rodgers, William Ledyard (1967).Naval Warfare Under Oars, 4th to 16th Centuries: A Study of Strategy, Tactics and Ship Design.U.S. Naval Institute. pp. 292, 351.ISBN978-0-87021-487-5.
- ^Moreau, Jean-Pierre (July 20, 2015).Piratas: Filibusterismo y piratería en el Caribe y en los Mares del Sur (1522-1725).Antonio Machado Libros. p. 371.ISBN978-84-9114-077-1.
- ^Bose, John W. (1868)."Zabra".Notes and Queries.Oxford University Press. p. 34.
- ^Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1885).La armada invencible per capita de navío.Est. Tip. de los Suc. de Rivadeneyra. p. 61.
- ^Laughton, John Knox (1895).State Papers Relating to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, Anno 1588: Vol. 2.Navy Records Society. p. 376.ISBN9780566055409.