Shields – Viking sailors kept their large, round, wooden shields hanging over the side of the boat as they travelled. Their shields were made from planks of linden, pine, spruce or fir tree wood that was butted together and was sometimes reinforced with iron.

Did Viking ships have shields?

Many times the Vikings travelled to raid, when they were on the boat, they had to have something as the means of protection. The Viking shields placed on the sides of the ships protected them from the distant hail of arrows.
 

What features did Viking longboats have?

They had a sail and a mast, but also had oars for rowing in case the wind disappeared. To steer the boat, they just had one oar at the back of the ship. Another fantastic feature was that the longboat was double-ended. This meant that the Vikings could reverse without having to turn the boat around.

What is a fact about Viking longboats?

Viking Longship Facts



They were long and narrow so that they could travel quickly through the water. This was important for surprise attacks and quick getaways. The ships were powered by wind in a wool sail, or by the manpower of rowing with oars if there wasn’t any wind available.
 

What was the purpose of the shields on the side of the ship?

Shields at sea



Along one side of the ship the remains of a so-called shield rack are preserved. Shields could be placed in this longitudinal attachment to protect the crew against incoming spears and arrows.

What were the shields on Viking longships?

They were made from a single layer of planks butted together, with no iron bands, and the fronts were painted black and yellow. Typical Viking shields were 80-90cm (32-36 inches) in diameter. Some were larger, such as the Gokstad shields, which were 94cm (37in) across.

Did Vikings have metal shields?

The archaeological evidence tells us that shields were also made from pine wood, spruce wood or the wood from fir tree. Viking shields weren’t strapped to the arm, they were gripped in the hand at the centre behind a boss made of iron. This meant that the angle of the shield could easily be changed.

How did Vikings go to the toilet on a longship?

The ship’s one toilet is a small transportable camp-toilet which is placed under deck in the bow. Under deck does not mean that you can go UNDER deck and hide. It just means that you will have to remove a few deck planks to reveal the toilet. The other toilet will be mounted when the ship is anchored t.

Did Viking longboats have anchors?

Viking anchors had a wooden crossbeam that slid up the shank of the anchor to a point where the anchor was round in section. It could be rotated to either lie flat for storage on deck, or crosswise to ensure that the flukes dug in on the sea bed.

What was so special about longships?

Longships had a shallow hull so they could sail in any type of water such as oceans or rivers. Because of this shallow draft Longships could sail on water as shallow as 1 metre. They could also perform beach landings, allowing the Vikings to slide up onto the sand and leap ashore.
 

How did Vikings make their ships waterproof?

The ships were made watertight by filling the spaces between the planks with wool, moss or animal hair, mixed with tar or tallow. The ships were all the same long narrow shape, with shallow draughts. This meant that they could be used in shallow water. Vikings used longships to make raids and carry their warriors.

How did Vikings anchor their ships?

Viking anchors had a wooden crossbeam that slid up the shank of the anchor to a point where the anchor was round in section. It could be rotated to either lie flat for storage on deck, or crosswise to ensure that the flukes dug in on the sea bed.

What is a Viking shield called?

A Viking’s primary defensive weapon was the shield. Because it was round, it was called rönd. Shields were about a yard across. Only the buckle and the rim was made of iron. The rest was made of light wood such as pine, spruce, maple or yew.
 

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