Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:13:50-1:14:54

Q&A: How tightly could a quinquereme turn?

Opposed rowing on the two sides improved maneuverability, but a large galley could not simply rotate within its own length.

Ancient GalleysNaval ManoeuvreQuinqueremes
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Question

How tightly could a quinquereme turn?

Short answer

Opposed rowing made it fairly maneuverable, but it still needed a substantial turning circle and could not turn in its own space.

Notes

Well-trained rowers could pull in opposite directions on the two sides of a quinquereme. This gave the ship considerable control, but it still needed a turning circle and could not pivot within its own space. The tentative estimate compares that circle with a modern River-class vessel, without claiming a measured equivalence.