by D. N. Carter
“Perhaps someone should inform some of the captains here for I see many ships leave heavily overloaded,” the Hospitaller said.
“Sadly that is indeed true,” the old man sighed in agreement before continuing. “Islamic technology of shipbuilding shows that the length-to-beam ratio of a typical size of commercial vessel is usually 3:1 or 4:1, with a shallow keel and rounded hull; the wide beam relative to the length aimed to provide maximum storage for cargo. Shipwrights in the Islamic Mediterranean employ the skeletal-building method in all stages of the hull’s construction. All the frames are in place before the wales and upper side planks are added. At some point after side planking begins, the open area between the bottom and sides is covered with an odd configuration of strakes, at least three of which do not run the full length of the hull. When planking is completed, they are caulked with a mixture of pitch or tar. After all the floor timbers are in place, the keelson was bolted between the frames and through the keel at irregular intervals with one inch diameter forelock bolts. Then stringers are added to the floor of the hold, on which a removable transverse ceiling is placed. Next comes the side ceiling, clamps and deck beams. The major difference in the construction techniques and methods between the Islamic Mediterranean and the eastern part of the empire is in reference to planking. The ship’s planks in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean are sewn together with ropes, while in the Mediterranean, iron nails are used. The lateen sail is a distinctive feature of the rig of Islamic ships in the Mediterranean.” [87]
“Sorry but what shape is a lateen sail?” Ayleth asked shyly.
“Like a large triangle,” the Templar answered.
“Most materials needed for shipbuilding are found within the Islamic lands. For instance, Egyptian shipwrights use different types of timber, lebek, acacia, fig, palm and lotus, which are abundantly found in Egypt, in their arsenals. But due to massive deforestation processes, cedar, pine and other timbers are being imported from Palestine, Lebanon, Asia Minor and Europe. All of the conditions I have detailed had been met by Paul’s unique design and in most cases exceeded them. And as he had promised Tenno, he used the information he had given him to stop rat infestation and used and incorporated the best elements of Chinese and Japanese vessel design. To Paul his vessel was more than just a ship. It represented so much more and Husam had allowed him to indulge his design unhindered, but still following all the legal requirements,” the old man explained.
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“And I thought you sailors just knocked a load of planks together to build your boats,” Simon joked, looking at the Genoese sailor.
“If it were only that simple,” the Genoese sailor replied. “But I would love to have seen this ship of Paul’s for real. She sounds a wonder to behold.”
“She was that indeed,” the old man sighed. “Perhaps too far advanced for her time.”
“Oh dear. That sounds ominous…is she at the bottom of the Red Sea now, then?” Sarah asked.
“No not quite…but let me explain what happened that day for sure enough Reynald’s fleet sighted the pilgrim vessel and accompanying vessels behind her…and as Husam anticipated, Reynald in his eagerness did not see beyond them to his ships following some distance behind.
Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, March 31st 1183
Paul adjusted the pitch of the main sail by winding the winch to pull the sail into the wind. As the vessel picked up speed, Percival raised the main mast vertical, the immediate downward force pushing the vessel’s bow deeper into the water. But as it did, the two bow stabiliser fins extended and pushed the vessel back upwards and raised it slightly. With less friction on the bow section of the hull, the vessel picked up speed instantly. Percival smiled broadly at Paul, impressed. Paul steered the vessel to the north of the pilgrim vessel and other assorted vessels following it. His heart was pounding with both anticipation and excitement.
“Do not get me killed this day please for I have not continued my line yet…and Nyla wants children,” Percival called out half laughing as he held on tightly as the speed increased.
“Pass me the looking glass,” Husam ordered and clicked his fingers as he steadied himself standing on the foredeck of his Dromon. One of his officers stepped closer and handed him an ornate hand held telescope. Quickly he extended it and put it to his eye and focused upon Paul’s vessel as it sped across the horizon. “What unbelievable speed!” Husam exclaimed, surprised, and faced his officers. “If things do not go our way this day, and that vessel looks like falling into Reynald’s hands…destroy it at all costs… is that understood?” Husam ordered. He shook his head again as he looked upon Paul’s vessel. “I had not appreciated just how advanced that vessel is. What a fool I am!”
Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191
“This does not sound good,” Ayleth commented.
“In that instant, Husam, seeing the speed and agility of Paul’s vessel, realised its tactical and strategic potential. His mind raced as he feared Reynald would seize the vessel and copy it as he had done with Paul’s other ship construction methods. As a consequence instead of holding back his fleet, he ordered them to intercept the pilgrim vessel immediately and recall Paul and Percival,” the old man explained.
“Why?” Peter asked, a little confused.
“Let me explain. On the approach to and during an actual battle, a well-ordered formation is critical for if a fleet fell into disorder, its ships would be unable to lend support to each other and would probably be defeated. Fleets that fail to keep an ordered formation or that could not order themselves into an appropriate counter-formation (antiparataxis) to match that of the enemy, often avoided or broke off from battle completely. Husam seeing the speed and manoeuvrability of Paul’s vessel, it caught him totally off guard and he felt as though he had just handed Reynald a major advantage if he captured it. Tactical manoeuvres are intended to disrupt the enemy formation, including the use of various stratagems, such as dividing one’s force and carrying out flanking manoeuvres, feigning retreat or hiding a reserve in ambush. A crescent formation is usually the normal tactic, with the flagship, Husam’s ship, in the centre and the heavier ships at the horns of the formation, in order to turn the enemy’s flanks. But Paul’s vessel would change all of that with its speed and handling abilities. So Husam was faced with a dilemma. Locate and engage Reynald as was his primary mission or recall Paul. His signallers frantically sent messages to Paul but neither he nor Percival saw them as they were too busy looking in Reynald’s direction. Husam had to get closer as fast as he could,” the old man detailed. [88]
“I recall Reynald and that evil Turansha both sought the plans of Paul’s vessel…,” the Hospitaller started to say when his brother hit his arm lightly and shook his head no.
“Thank you,” the old man said and nodded at them. “If you said more, you would let out what happened,” he smiled.
“Sorry…please continue,” the Hospitaller said apologetically.
“Husam needed to get Paul’s vessel away but also get his fleet as close to Reynald’s fleet wherever he was so they could exchange missiles, ranging from combustible projectiles to arrows and javelins. The aim was not to sink his ships, but to deplete his ranks before any boarding actions, which would decide the final outcome. Once the enemy strength was judged to have been reduced sufficiently, the fleet could close in, the ships would then grapple each other, and the marines and upper bank oarsmen would board the enemy vessel and engage in hand-to-hand combat. It could be a costly business,” the old man explained.
“Because he is Christian, I know I should be rooting for Reynald…but, but,” Sarah said and then paused and fiddled with her fingers. “Does that make me a traitor of sorts?” she asked.
“Of course it does not,” the old man laughed.
“I was engaged in warfare at sea on several occasions. ’Twas the worst kind, especially as Muslim ships had Manganas and Ballistaes,” the Hospitaller remarked.
“What?” the wealth
y tailor asked.
“Manganas and Ballistaes…catapults and mangonels that launched stones, arrows, javelins, pots of Greek fire or other incendiary liquids, caltrops (triboloi) and even containers full of lime to choke the enemy. But at least they did not have rams. They relied totally on boarding actions and missile fire as the old man details,” the Hospitaller explained.
“So please, tell us what happened,” Gabirol asked quietly.
The old man nodded, took a sip of rosehip water and continued.
Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, March 31st 1183
Paul looked behind to see Husam’s Dromon warship speeding towards him followed by the remainder of his fleet. He stood up fast to see clearer as Percival looked back.
“What is he doing?” Percival called out. “Messages…they are signalling us…look.”
Paul could just make out the small figure on the foredeck waving flags.
“What does it say?” Paul shouted as Percival struggled to see the signaller properly. “Oh Lord…look!” Paul shouted as several large Christian trireme and cog type vessels loomed into view directly on a collision path with the pilgrim vessel.
“Paul…it says we must retire to Port Aydhab immediately,” Percival called out as Paul looked at him, confused.
The pilgrim transport vessel pitched its sail and pulled about hard nearly capsizing as it executed the manoeuvre. Women and children screamed in panic as Reynald’s vessels rapidly drew near. Paul pushed the rudder lever hard to his left forcing his vessel to pull a hard turn right, the main sail boom swinging hard and creaking under the sudden tension. Paul steered the vessel into position so it was pointing directly at the pilgrim ship’s path. A slower Muslim Tarida tried to pull astern but was immediately intercepted by a large trireme flying the Hospitallers’ colours. The Muslim Tarida pitched wildly as it tried to avoid the approaching vessel but just as it started to turn away, a large orange gout of flame shot out from the stern port side of the Hospitaller vessel. The flame arched out as it hit the sea water but slowly reached outwards until it caught the side of the Tarida. As the Tarida slipped through the clear waters, the flame continued to pour upon it. Oars started to clash against each other and break or face upwards as the crew inside rushed away from the incoming burning fire. As the Tarida pulled away, the Hospitaller vessel swung hard astern just as screams of men on fire filled the air with a shrill shriek that made Paul and Percival freeze momentarily. Horses inside neighed loudly in panic. The Tarida side was completely alight as men started to jump overboard, some on fire.
“Paul!” Percival shouted to get his attention. “What do we do?”
Paul looked behind him quickly. Husam was still some distance away. When he looked forwards again, the Hospitaller ship was turning to run alongside the pilgrim vessel. Paul watched helplessly as he saw men moving the flame thrower into position as others pumped up the pressure using bellows. Another three masted trireme vessel started to pull alongside the opposite side of the pilgrim vessel. On the aft forecastle Paul suddenly saw both Reynald and Gerard standing shouting orders to Naval Templars rapidly forming up on the main deck with grappling hooks preparing to board.
“Shit…shit, shit,” Paul said aloud, his mind racing, wondering what to do. A man behind the bellows to the flame thrower raised his hand. Paul knew it meant it was ready. Paul straightened his sails to catch the maximum amount of wind and aimed his vessel directly at the rear of the Hospitaller ship.
“What are you doing? I said don’t get me killed this day,” Percival shouted as he jumped next to Paul.
“Help me to hold this steady. If we can knock that ship aside, they will not be able to burn the pilgrim vessel,” Paul shouted and looked behind him again. Husam was closing but not fast enough. “Hold tight, my friend. Our bows are reinforced…she will take the impact.”
Percival looked at Paul hesitantly as alarm registered across his face.
“Impact!” he exclaimed.
Paul just nodded and clung tightly to the rudder lever. As the pilgrim vessel drew level with the Hospitaller ship, the flame thrower was pointed directly at her bows as she neared the stern and flame thrower position. Paul had to stand up to see over the bow of his vessel as it rose when it picked up speed. He looked to his right at the large trireme with Reynald and Gerard on board. They saw his vessel approach and looked on in surprise. But within moments Reynald ordered several archers and crossbow men to start firing towards them. Their arrows and bolts fell well short. Paul then saw Stewart run up the steps and stand beside Gerard. For a moment all three of them stared at Paul, now clearly visible. Gerard feigned a brief look of surprise, more at the strange vessel, as Reynald grinned and shook his head. He smiled, but then frowned when he saw what Paul was about to do.
“If I judge this wrong, you must jump off as that flame thrower will cover us!” Paul shouted to Percival as he ducked as a few long range arrows bounced off the deck.
Paul pushed the rudder lever to his right as far as it would go, the bow of the vessel cutting deep into the water then smashing hard into the rear of the Hospitaller vessel’s steerage rudder breaking it in two and damaging several planks. With a screech and grinding of wood on wood, the two vessels momentarily locked together, Reynald, Gerard and Stewart looking across the top of the pilgrim vessel at Paul and Percival. Hospitallers rushed to the aft deck and looked down at the damage, the flame thrower having been knocked sideways. As one of the operators fell with the impact, he fired the mechanism, with the resultant gout of thick flame spewing out all across the inside section of the aft deck. Two Hospitallers lit up engulfed in the flaming liquid. One jumped into the sea whilst the other rolled around on the deck screaming in agony as two others tried to push the flame thrower over the side as it kept spewing flame.
“Kill them…now!” Reynald shouted from his vessel.
Paul and Percival looked up at several Hospitallers aiming crossbows at them. One fired, its arrow just missing Percival as he ducked, when several large javelins flew across the aft deck causing the Hospitallers to dive for cover. Paul looked behind just in time to see one of Husam’s Dromon ships loom closer.
“Paul! Paul!” Stewart called out as Percival tried to push against the Hospitaller vessel to free their ship. “What are you doing?” Stewart shouted across the decks.
Women and children screamed on the pilgrim vessel as Reynald grabbed a crossbow and aimed it at Paul. Without hesitation Stewart knocked into him hard as he fired, the bolt shooting through the pilgrim ship’s main sail. Reynald looked at Stewart in anger.
“Reynald…Reynald…this is piracy and murder!” Paul shouted as Percival managed to break some of the planking away that was entangled in their vessel’s bow.
Reynald grabbed another crossbow off of one his men and jumped up onto a balustrade in order to get a better aim. He fired, the bolt whizzing past Paul’s head and narrowly missing Percival as it embedded into the Hospitaller ship.
“You traitors! You will hang for this!” Reynald shouted and threw the crossbow towards Paul. It hit the pilgrim vessel astern as it slowly pulled away. Gerard pulled Reynald back onto the aft deck and pointed to all of Husam’s ships bearing down upon them.
“I am no traitor but I will not let you murder women and children!” Paul shouted back as the bow of his vessel suddenly broke away from the hole left in the Hospitaller ship. Percival nearly fell overboard Paul just managing to grab him in time.
“Burn the pilgrim ship and then run that bastard down. I want him taken alive for he will pay for this!” Reynald bellowed loudly as several Muslim sailors on the pilgrim vessel gesticulated towards him mockingly.
Paul levelled his vessel and tightened in the main sail. Instantly the vessel moved between Reynald’s ship and the Hospitaller vessel, its crew busy fighting the ever growing fire on board. Percival laughed nervously as they ran alongside Reynald’s vessel as he ran along the deck looking down at them.
“You Muslim lover…you have chosen your si
de!” Reynald shouted as he was followed by Gerard and Stewart. A loud report suddenly rang out and an explosion of flame rose from the starboard side of Reynald’s ship. Another explosion rang out as another Greek fire grenade exploded just as Husam’s Dromon pulled up alongside Reynald’s ship. Within moments Husam’s marines were throwing grappling hooks and pulling the two vessels closer together. Stewart looked down at Paul momentarily, then at Gerard, who immediately drew his sword and rushed towards the commotion.
“Stewart…jump…here!” Paul shouted to his brother as his vessel rapidly began to pull away. Stewart looked at him, hesitated for a moment as he looked down into the water. Another explosion rang out just as several marines jumped across onto the decks from Husam’s ship. “Stewart!” Paul shouted again.