These were oared vessels with auxiliary fore and aft sails allowing the ship to travel at great angles (up to 30°) to the wind. Galleys were most common in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and on rivers. Galleys were not very seaworthy and relatively slow (about 7 knots). But they were very manoeuvrable and did not depend on the wind. A galley was usually armed with several powerful guns at the bow and small-bore cannon. Galleys were of different sizes. The most prevalent characteristics were as follows: length - 41.7-43.0 m (136-140 ft); width - 5.5-7.3 m (18-24 ft); hull depth - 1.8-2.7 m (6-9 ft); 20-24 thwarts (benches for oarsmen). A galley's weaponry comprised 3-6 twelve-pound cannon and 18-21 falconets. Hired workers, convicts or sometimes soldiers were used as oarsmen. In addition to oarsmen, galleys took on 24-40 sailors, 9-14 officers and about 150 soldiers.
