Crommesteven
TheCrommestevenorcromsteven,often ascrompster,cromsterorcrumster(fromcrom= bent, concave;steven= stem)[1]was a type of smallwarshipused by theDutch Republicand later by the British fleets during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.[2]It was designed for work inshore on the shoalNetherlandscoast and was aketch,spritsailrigged on themain,andlateenon the small mizzen. As a class of vessel, it was represented inEnglandby thehoy.When queenElizabeth Idied in 1603, her navy was reported to consist of 31great ships,includinggalleonsand crompsters, though crommestevens were considerably smaller than galleons.[3]
For its size, it was heavily armed and capable of influencing events ashore, in which respect it played a part in theSpanish Armadacampaign of 1588.
Sources
[edit]- ^Robert Gardiner, Brian Lavery:The Line of Battle: The Sailing Warship 1650-1840,Conway Maritime 2004.ISBN0-85177-954-9.p.67
- ^L. E. Harris:The Two Netherlanders Humphtey Bradlay and Cornelis Drebbel.Brill Archive, p.96
- ^Corbett, Julian Stafford:The successors of Drake,London: Longmans, Green 1900. p.411