Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 31:12-31:50

Could sailing fleets replenish at sea?

Age-of-sail ships could transfer food and water afloat, using boats for ordinary loads or improvised lifting gear when heavier stores had to move.

Age Of SailReplenishment At SeaSeamanshipStore Ships
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Question

Were auxiliary supply operations carried out at sea in the age of sail?

Short answer

Yes. Boats handled ordinary transfers, while tackles, spare spars, and a mast could be rigged into lifting gear for heavier stores.

Notes

Replenishment at sea did occur in the sailing era, although it proceeded more slowly than modern underway replenishment. Boats normally carried food, water, and other stores between ships. For heavier loads, crews could rig purchases, tackles, spare spars, and a mast into something resembling an A-frame crane. Seamanship and available time substituted for purpose-built replenishment equipment.