List of longest wooden ships

Last updated

The six-masted schooner Wyoming, the longest confirmed wooden ship in history. Schooner Wyoming, 1917.JPG
The six-masted schooner Wyoming, the longest confirmed wooden ship in history.
The side-wheel paddle steamer ferryboat Eureka, now a museum ship, is the longest wooden ship still afloat. Eureka (steam ferryboat, San Francisco).JPG
The side-wheel paddle steamer ferryboat Eureka , now a museum ship, is the longest wooden ship still afloat.

This is a list of the world's longest wooden ships. The vessels are sorted by ship length including bowsprit, if known.

Contents

Finding the world's longest wooden ship is not straightforward since there are several contenders, depending on which definitions are used. For example, some of these ships benefited from substantial iron or even steel components since the flexing of wood members can lead to significant leaking as the wood members become longer. Some of these ships were not very seaworthy, and a few sank either immediately after launch or soon thereafter. Some of the more recent large ships were never able or intended to leave their berths, and function as floating museums. Finally, not all of the claims to the title of the world's longest wooden ship are credible or verifiable.

A further problem is that especially wooden ships have more than one "length". The most used measure in length for registering a ship is the "length of the topmost deck" — the "length on deck" (LOD) — 'measured from leading edge of stem post to trailing edge of stern post on deck level' or the "length between perpendiculars" (LPP, LBP) — 'measured from leading edge of stem post to trailing edge of stern post in the construction waterline (CWL)'. In this method of measuring bowsprit including jibboom and out-board part of spanker boom if any have both no effect on the ship's length. The longest length for comparing ships, the total "overall" length (LOA) based on sparred length, should be given if known.

The longest wooden ship ever built, the six-masted New England gaff schooner Wyoming, had a "total length" of 137 metres (449 ft) (measured from tip of jibboom (30 metres) to tip of spanker boom (27 metres) and a "length on deck" of 107 m (351 ft). The 30 m (98 ft)-difference is due to her extremely long jibboom of 30 m (98 ft) her out-board length being 27 m (89 ft).

Longest known wooden ships

Over 100 meters (328 feet)

LengthBeamNameServiceFateNotes
140 m
(450 ft)
15.3 m
(50 ft 1 in)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wyoming 1909–1924sunkThis ship had a tendency to flex in heavy seas, causing the planks to twist and buckle due to their extreme length despite being fitted with metal bracing. Water was evacuated nearly constantly by steam pumps. It foundered in heavy seas with loss of all hands.
130 m
(425 ft)
35 m
(116 ft)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Solano 1878–1931scuttledA paddle steamer used to ferry passengers and trains across the Carquinez Strait between Benicia and Port Costa, California. At the time of its construction, it was the largest ferryboat ever built. Unlike its later sister, the Contra Costa which had a steel hull, the wooden-hulled Solano had tall masts in the center of mass ("hogposts") anchoring several wires ("guys") that strengthened the hull against the weight of the trains. [1] The ferries were scuttled after the completion of the Benicia-Martinez railroad bridge.
115.0 m
(377.3 ft)
22.2 m
(72.8 ft)
US Naval Jack 36 stars.svg USS Dunderberg
(later Flag of France.svg Rochambeau)
1865–1874broken up 1874Ironclad built in New York City, originally intended for the United States Navy during the American Civil War, but eventually sold to the French Navy. About 50 feet (15 m) of her length was a ram. She was not particularly stable or seaworthy and only made one oceanic voyage to reach her new owners.
108 m
(356 ft)
15.4 m
(50 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Columbus 1824–1825sunkFirst timber ship or disposable ship [2] with a four-masted barque rigging. Built in Quebec to avoid taxes on timber, her cargo and components were intended to be sold after the ship's arrival in London; however, the owner had only the cargo sold and ordered the ship back for a second voyage with a timber cargo; the ship broke apart and sunk in the English Channel.
108 m

(354 ft)

15.4 m

(50 ft)

Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg Adriatic 1857–1885beached and abandoned in 1885SS Adriatic was the largest passenger ship in the world when she was launched. She displaced 5,233 tons at her design draft of 20 feet (6.1 m). [3] Her hull was constructed of live and white oak, reinforced with iron strapping 5 inches (13 cm) wide and .875 inches (2.22 cm) thick. It was divided into eight watertight compartments, with bulkheads 6 inches (15 cm) thick between them. [4] She was built for the Collins Line, but only did one roundtrip before that firm failed, partly because of Adriatic's high cost.
103 m
(338 ft)
13.4 m
(44 ft)
Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg Pretoria 1900–1905sunkA barge built for use on the Great Lakes. To strengthen the wooden frame and hull, steel keelson plates, chords, and arches were included, and was also diagonally strapped with steel. A donkey engine powered a pump to keep the interior dry. [5]
102.1 m
(335 ft) [6]
16.2 m
(53 ft)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg Great Republic
(later Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Denmark)
1853–1872sunkThe largest wooden clipper ship ever built. It used iron bolts and was reinforced with steel, including ninety 36-foot (11 m) 4x1-inch cross braces, and metal keelsons. [7] The MIT Museum noted that "With this behemoth, McKay had pushed wooden ship construction to its practical limits." [8] The ship was abandoned leaking after encountering a hurricane near Bermuda.
102.1 m
(335 ft)
18.3 m
(60 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Orlando
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Mersey
1858–1871, 1858–1875 respectivelybroken upSister British warships that suffered structural problems due to their length despite having internal iron strapping to support the hull.
102.1 m
(335 ft)
17.7 m
(58 ft 1 in)
Flag of France.svg Trident 1878–1909scrappedThe largest Colbert-class ironclad of the French Navy's Mediterranean Squadron. It saw action at the French conquest of Tunisia
102 m
(335 ft)
15 m Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg William D. Lawrence
(later Norge-Unionsflagg-1844.svg Kommandør Svend Foyn)
1874–1891sunkLargest wooden cargo ship ever built in Canada. It passed to Norwegian ownership in 1883 and was converted into a barge in 1891. Sank while under tow at Dakar. [9]
101.7 m
(333 ft 8 in)
17.4 m
(57 ft 1 in)
Flag of France.svg Richelieu 1873–1911scrappedA wooden-hulled central battery ironclad that served in the French Navy's Mediterranean Squadron.
101.1 m
(331 ft 8 in)
17.4 m
(57 ft 1 in)
Flag of France.svg Colbert 1877–1909scrapped Lead ship of the Colbert-class ironclads and part of the French Navy's Mediterranean Squadron. It saw action at the French conquest of Tunisia.

100–90 meters (328–295 feet)

LengthBeamNameServiceFateNotes
100 m
(328.084 ft)
6 m
(50 ft 1 in)
Flag of Russia.svg Belyana type ships16th–20th centurydisassembledBelyanas were Russian freshwater ships used for log driving on the Volga and Vetluga rivers. Their bottom was made from fir and sidings from pine and featured a complement of 60 to 80 workers. The largest Belyanas could transport up to 13,000,000 kilograms (29,000,000 lb) of logs all stacked on their deck in the form of an inverted pyramid. [10]
98.8 m
(324 ft)
14.0 m
(46 ft)
Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg Santiago 1899–1918sunkA schooner-barge on the Great Lakes, towed by Appomattox until 1905 and then the steamer John F. Morrow until 1918. [11]
97.84 m
(311 ft)
15.0 m
(49 ft)
Flag of the United States (1891-1896).svg Roanoke 1892–1905burned, then sunkA huge four-masted barque with skysails of a total length of 360 ft (110 m) and 3,539  GRT. In 1905 she was under the command of Captain Jabez A. Amesbury when she caught fire while loading at the anchorage of Noumea and burned to the waterline. This ship used iron bolts and steel reinforcements. [12] [13]
97.2 m
(319 ft)
12.8 m
(42 ft)
Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg Appomattox 1896–1905run aground and sunkA Great Lakes steamship capable of carrying 3,000 tons of bulk cargo. Built with metallic cross bracing, keelson plates, and multiple arches because of her extreme length. Several syphons and steam-driven pumps were required to keep her afloat. Towed the steamer barge Santiago. [14]
95.1 m21.03 m Caligula's giant ship c. 37 ADreused as foundation of lighthouse Traces of this Roman barge were found during the construction of Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at Fiumicino, Italy, just north of the ancient port of Ostia. According to Pliny, this or a similar ship was used to transport the obelisk in St. Peter's Square from Egypt on the orders of Emperor Caligula. [15]
95 m
(312 ft)
12 m
(41 ft)
Flag of the United States (1891-1896).svg L.R. Doty 1893–1898wreckedA lake freighter that sank on Lake Michigan with the loss of all hands. Her wreck was located in 2010.
95 m
(312 ft)
12 m
(41 ft)
Flag of the United States (1891-1896).svg Iosco 1891–1905sunkA lake freighter that sank on September 2, 1905, on Lake Superior with the loss of all hands.
94.8 m
(311 ft)
unknown Naval Ensign of Russia.svg Derzhava 1871–1905decommissionedA steam-propelled yacht for personal use of the Russian Imperial Family in the Baltic Sea.
92.7 m
(304 ft)
18.6 m
(61 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Baron of Renfrew 1825stranded and broken apartThis unseaworthy [16] British ship was a disposable ship. Created to avoid taxes on timber, she was built of components intended to be sold after the ship's arrival from Quebec to London. The ship stranded on the Goodwin Sands and broke apart while being towed with a pilot aboard. Parts of her timber were found on the French coast. The ship had 5,294 GRT and an overall length of 362 ft (110 metres).
91.7 m
(301 ft)
13.0 m
(42.5 ft)
Flag of the United States (1891-1896).svg Frank O'Connor [note 1] 1892–1919burnedA steam screw operating on the Great Lakes, it required an innovative iron and steel-reinforced hull to be a viable vessel. [17]
91.4 m
(300 ft 4 in)
17.1 m
(56 ft 5)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Bellerophon 1865–1923sold for scrapA Royal Navy central battery ironclad. It served in the Channel Fleet and North America.
91.3 m
(300 ft)
15.0 m
(49 ft)
Flag of the United States (1890-1891).svg Shenandoah1890–1915accidentally rammed and sunkAnother huge four-masted barque of the fleet of Arthur Sewell & Co. of Bath, Maine, with double top-sails, single topgallant sails, royal and sky sails of a total length of 360 ft (110 m) and 3,406.78 GRT. [18] It was rammed by the steamer Powhattan near Fire Island, Long Island, New York in 1915.
91.1 m
(299 ft)
23.7 m
(78 ft) [note 2]
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eureka 1890–1957museum shipA steamboat with twin, 27-foot paddlewheels that carried railcars, cars and passengers across San Francisco Bay. Currently a National Historic Landmark at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, and the longest wooden ship that is still afloat.
91 m
(300 ft)
13 m
(42 ft)
Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1862-1889).svg Haian
Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1862-1889).svg Yuyuen
1872–?
1873–1885
(respectively)
hulked and scrapped
sunk
(respectively)
Twin steam-powered frigates of the Imperial Chinese Navy, and the largest vessels built in China until the 1930s. Yuyuen was sunk in action during the Sino-French War; Haian survived, but was hulked after being used as a blockship in the same war, and was scrapped years later.

89-80 meters (291-262 feet)

LengthBeamNameServiceFateNotes
89.5 m
(283 ft 8 in)
17.3 m
(56 ft 9 in)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Sagunto
(also Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Amadeo I)
1869–1896hulked and broken upDesigned as a 100-gun screw-propelled frigate but turned into an armored frigate during construction. The hull was wooden but fully covered by iron plates. Turned into a hulk in 1887.
87 m

(284 ft)

13 m

(42 ft)

Flag Portugal (1830).svg Dom Fernando II e Glória 1845–1940museum shipA 50-gun frigate of the Portuguese Navy. It became a training ship in 1865 and was permanently moored at Lisbon after 1878. Despite this, it was named the flagship of Portugal's European squadron in 1938. Two years later it became a naval school and museum ship. It is currently displayed in Almada.
87 m
(285 ft)
12 m
(29 ft)
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg Australasia 1884–1896burnedA steamship that burned down on Lake Michigan.
86.8 m
(287 ft)
15.0 m
(49 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg Rappahannock1889–1891burnedA three-masted wooden full-rigged ship of 3,054 GRT, built and owned by Arthur Sewall & Co., with double top-sails and topgallant sails, royal and sky sails of a total length of 347 ft (106 m). The ship burned down near Juan Fernández while transporting soft charcoal from Liverpool to San Francisco, but everyone aboard reached Robinson Crusoe island, where they were rescued. [19]
85.4 m
(280 ft 2 in)
16.6 m
(54 ft 6 in)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Zaragoza 1867–1899scuttledA Spanish armored frigate built in Cartagena with a wooden hull covered by iron plates. Became a torpedo training ship in 1892.
85.34 m
(280 ft)
10.97 m
(36 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Cutty Sark [note 3] 1869–1954museum shipBuilt as one of the last and fastest clippers for the tea trade with China, it switched to transporting wool from Australia after the Suez Canal was built. It was sold to a Portuguese company and used as a cargo ship between 1895 and 1922, when it was reacquired by British citizens and eventually restored for exhibition.
85.3 m
(280 ft)
18 m
(58 ft 11 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Lord Clyde
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Lord Warden
1864–1875
1865–1889
(respectively)
run aground and sold for scrap
broken up
(respectively)
Sister ships reputed at once to be the heaviest wooden ships ever built, the fastest steaming wooden ships, and the slowest-sailing ironclads in the Royal Navy. Both served in the Channel Fleet and the Mediterranean Squadron. Lord Clyde was plagued with engineering problems and was sold for scrap after it run aground and its hull was found to be rotten. Lord Warden had a more distinguished career, serving in the Reserve at the Firth of Forth after leaving the Mediterranean.
85.3 m
(280 ft)
15.9 m
(52 ft 2 in)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Arapiles 1868–1883broken upA Spanish ironclad with a wooden hull covered entirely by iron plates. It served mostly in the Caribbean.
85.3 m
(280 ft)
15.2 m
(50 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Galatea 1859–1883broken upA 26-gun sixth-rate screw frigate of the Royal Navy's North America and West Indies Station.
85.1 m
(279 ft 1 in)
17 m
(55 ft 9 in)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Tetuán 1863-1874burned and sunkFirst armored frigate built in Spain, in the Ferrol royal shipyard, with a wooden hull covered by iron plates. She burned as a result of sabotage during the Cantonal Revolution.
83.7 m
(274.6 ft)
18.5 m
(60.7 ft)
Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Hashemi-II 2001–museum and restaurantA Kuwaiti non-seagoing model of a dhow, reputed to be the largest ever built. [20]
83.4 m
(274 ft)
13.7 m
(45 ft)
Flag of the United States (1891-1896).svg Susquehanna1891–1905sunkThe third hugest four-masted wooden barque of the fleet of Arthur Sewell & Co. with double top-sails, single topgallant sails, royal and sky sails of 2,745 GRT. Lost in a heavy storm three days after leaving Nouméa, New Caledonia, for Delaware with a cargo of 3,558 tons of nickel ore. This ship used also iron bolts and steel reinforcements. [21]
81.2 m10.9 m Naval Ensign of Russia.svg Livadia 1873–1878run aground and sunkA steam-propelled yacht for personal use of the Russian Imperial Family in the Black Sea. It sank at night, due to unruly weather, but without loss of life or cargo.
81.0 m
(266 ft)
18.08 m
(59.3 ft)
Flag of France.svg Bretagne 1855–1880broken upA 130-gun three-decker ship of the line, built as an improvement over the successful Océan class. It was equipped with an 8-boiler steam engine and a propeller that could be retracted to streamline the hull when sailing under sail only. It saw action during the Crimean War, and was used as a school ship after 1866.
80.9 m
(265.3 ft)
13.4 m
(44.1 ft)
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg Morning Light
(later Flag of the German Empire.svg Jacob Fritz)
1856–1889wreckedLargest vessel in British North America at the time of its construction. Sold to a German company in 1881, and found wrecked and abandoned north of New Jersey, in 1889.

79–70 meters (259–230 feet)

LengthBeamNameServiceFateNotes
79.2 m
(260 ft)
18.3 m
(60 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Victoria
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Howe
1859–1893
1860–1921
(respectively)
both scrappedSister 121-gun ships that were the last commissioned three-deckers ships of the line of the Royal Navy. The hulls were strapped with diagonal iron riders for extra stability, and they combined sail propulsion with a two-funnel marine steam engine that made them among the fastest ships of the line ever built.
78.3 m
(256.9 ft)
14.5 m
(47.6 ft)
Hanse Lubeck.svg Adler von Lübeck 1567–1588disassembledBuilt in Lübeck to serve as the main fighting ship of the Hanseatic League. This galleon featured 138 guns, and space for 650 marines and a 350-man-strong crew. She was the largest ship of her time. [22]
78.22 m
(256 ft 8 in)
17 m
(55 ft 9 in)
Flag of France.svg Gloire 1859–1883scrappedFirst ocean-going ironclad, developed in response to the use of explosive shells in the Crimean War.
78 m
(257 ft)
14 m
(45 ft)
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg Canada 1891–1926broken upA full-rigged ship intended to be the largest wooden ship built in Canada, but the hull had to be shortened after the keel's timber was damaged during construction. It transported cargo between South America and Australia, and between the United States and Canada, during her career.
77.9 m
(255 ft 6 in)
18.3 m
(60 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Algiers 1854–1870broken upA screw-propelled, 91-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched after several changes in design since first conceived in 1839. Saw action at the Crimean War before being transferred to Malta and British home waters.
77.8 m
(255 ft 3 in)
17 m
(55 ft 9 in)
Flag of France.svg Napoléon 1850–1876struckA 90-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, the first purpose-built steam battleship in the world, and the first screw battleship. Its design was used as a basis for the slightly smaller Algésiras and Ville de Nantes classes.
76.8 m
(252 ft)
18.3 m
(60 ft 2 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Prince of Wales
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Britannia)
1860–1917hulked and broken upA 121-gun screw-propelled first-rate three-decker line-of-battle ship of the Royal Navy. Renamed in 1869 and hulked in 1909.
76.8 m
(252 ft)
13.9 m
45.6 ft
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg Sovereign of the Seas 1852–1859wreckedThis clipper is the fastest sailing ship ever built, recording an unbeaten 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) in 1854. It wrecked on the Strait of Malacca while covering the route between Hamburg and China.
76.15 m
(249.8 ft)
21.22 (69.6 ft) Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg Mahmudiye 1829–1874disassembledOrdered by Sultan Mahmud II and built by the Ottoman Imperial Naval Arsenal on the Golden Horn in Constantinople. It was the largest warship in the world for several years. The ship-of-the-line that was 76 m (249 ft) long with a beam of 21 m (69 ft), was armed with 128 cannon on three decks with complement of 1,280. She participated in many naval battles, including the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855) during the Crimean War.
75.66 m

(248 ft 3 in)

16.5 m

(54 ft 2 in)

SMS Danzig (1851) (later Kaiten Maru )1853–1869burned
75 m
(245 ft)
12 m
(40 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg SS British Queen
(later Flag of Belgium (civil).svg British Queen)
1839–1844scrappedA paddle steamer that was the second steamship built for the trans-Atlantic route and the largest passenger liner at the time it was built. It passed to Belgian ownership after the British and American Steam Navigation Company collapsed on the wake of the loss of SS President.
74.68 m
(245 ft)
unknown Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Atlas
(later Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Atlas)
1860–1904broken upA 91-gun second rate ship of the line that was never completed and spent her entire career in reserve and later, as a civilian-owned hospital ship.
74.4 m
(244 ft 1 in)
10.15 m
(33.3 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg City of Adelaide [note 4] 1864–1948museum shipA clipper ship built to transport passengers and goods between Britain and Australia. In 1893 she became a floating hospital, and between 1923 and 1948 she served in the Royal Navy as a school ship, HMS Carrick. After being displayed in Scotland for decades, it was moved to its namesake Port Adelaide in 2014.
74 m
(242 ft 9 in)
14.7 m (48 ft 3 in) Flag of France.svg Audacieuse 1856–1879decommissionedA mixed frigate of the French Navy active in the Second Opium War.
74 m
(243 ft)
13.6 m
(44.5 ft)
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg County of Yarmouth 1884–?unknownA full-rigged ship built for trade with South America. It was dismasted and set to be broken up in 1895, but it was purchased in the last moment by the Argentinian Navy. Its later fate is unknown.
74 m
(243 ft)
12 m
(41 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg SS President 1840–1841lost at seaThe largest passenger liner in the world, and the first steamship lost on the trans-Atlantic route when it disappeared on its third voyage with all 136 people on board. Although one meter shorter than British Queen overall, it had 25% more capacity and an additional deck that made it top heavy, slow, and under-powered in rough weather.
74 m
(242 ft)
11 m (37 ft) Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg George Spencer 1884–1905wreckedA lake freighter built to carry iron ore on the Great Lakes. She wrecked in the infamous Mataafa Storm of 1905.
73.6 m
(241.5 ft)
8.8 m
(29 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Keangsoo
(later Naval Ensign of Japan.svg Kasuga)
1862–1902scrappedA paddle steamer commissioned in the Isle of Wight by Prince Gong of the Qing Dynasty for use in the Taiping Rebellion, but never delivered as the British crew refused to take orders from Chinese officers. Sold to the Satsuma Domain, she joined the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Boshin War.
73.3 m
(240 ft 6 in)
19 m
(62 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Royal Sovereign 1857–1885broken upDesigned as a 121-gun first rate ship of the line but modified to a 131-gun screw ship during construction. In 1862, she was razed and further converted to an experimental armored turret ship for coastal defence, the first built in Britain as well as the smallest and only with a wooden hull.
73.2 m
(240 ft)
16.9 m
(55 ft 4 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Conqueror
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Donegal
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Vernon)
1855–1861
1858–1925
(respectively)
wrecked
hulked, then scrapped
(respectively)
Sister 101-gun screw-propelled, first rate ships of the line of the Royal Navy. Conqueror was wrecked in the Bahamas while carrying troops to the French Intervention in Mexico, but all aboard could be saved. Donegal served in Mexico, Liverpool and China until 1886, when it was hulked and merged into the Torpedo School at Portsmouth under the name Vernon. Scrapped in 1926, some of her timbers were used to build the Prince of Wales public house in Brighouse.
73.2 m
(249.8 ft)
11 m (36 ft) Flag of Scotland.svg Great Michael
(later Pavillon royal de la France.svg Grande Nef d'Ecosse)
1512–?unknownMichael, the flagship of the Royal Scots Navy, ordered by James IV of Scotland, and built at Newhaven, Edinburgh. Nicknamed Great Michael, she was sold to France following the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Flodden.
73 m
(240 ft)
24 m (79 ft) Second Nemi ship 1st century ADsunk, then burnedBelieved to have been used as a pleasure barge or floating palace by Caligula. Its remains were recovered from Lake Nemi in 1929 and housed in a Roman museum until they were destroyed in World War II.
73 m
(238 ft)
16.87 m
(55 ft 4 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS St Jean d'Acre 1853–1875broken upFirst 101-gun screw two-decker ship of the line of the Royal Navy. This experimental ship recycled materials from an 1844 copy of HMS Albion that was never completed and incorporated new designs made for the 1854 HMS James Watt. It later served as inspiration for the slightly longer HMS Conqueror. Saw action at the Crimean War.
72.2 m

(236 ft 11 in)

13.04 m

(42 ft 9 in)

Japanese frigate Kaiyō Maru 1865–1868wrecked
72 m
(236 ft 2 in)
15 m
(49 ft 3 in)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Lealtad class 1860–1897variedThree sister steam and sail-powered armored frigates with wooden hulls that served in the French Intervention in Mexico, the Chincha Islands War and the Cantonal Revolution.
71.9 m
(236 ft)
10.7 m
(35.1 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Great Western 1837–1856disassembledA steamship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for regular transatlantic steam "packet boat" service. In addition to the paddle wheels, she carried four masts for supplementary propulsion and stability.
71.7 m
(235 ft 3 in)
16.8 m
(55 ft 1 in)
Flag of France.svg Ville de Nantes class 1862–1894all broken up90-gun ship of the line class of the French Navy, powered both by sail and steam power.
71.5 m
(234.6 ft)
[23] [ better source needed ]
14.8 m
(48.5 ft)
English White Ensign 1620.svg HMS Sovereign of the Seas
(later English White Ensign 1620.svg HMS Royal Sovereign)
1637–1696burnedA prestige flagship of the English Royal Navy, designed as a 90-gun first-rate ship of the line but launched with 102 guns at the insistence of Charles I. Her most extravagant decoration earned her the nickname of "Golden Devil". [23] After serving in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the War of the Grand Alliance, she was permanently moored at Chatham until she burned by accident.
71.46 m
(234 ft 5 in)
16.86 m
(55 ft 4 in)
Flag of France.svg Algésiras class 1855–1921varied90-gun ship of the line class of the French Navy, powered both by sail and steam power.
71 m
(233 ft)
13.5 m
(44 ft)
Naval Ensign of Denmark.svg Jylland 1860–1908museum shipA screw-propelled steam frigate of the Royal Danish Navy, it saw action at the Battle of Heligoland (1864). Currently preserved in Ebeltoft.
70.18 m
(230 ft 3 in)
16.87 m
(55 ft 4 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Agamemnon
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Victor Emmanuel
1852–1870
1855–1899?
broken up
unknown
91-gun Royal Navy steam battleships ordered in response to the French Napoléon. Agamemnon was one of two ships used to lay the first Transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858. Victor Emmanuel served in the English Channel, Mediterranean and Africa during the Anglo-Ashanti wars before it was stationed as a hospital and receiving ship in Hong Kong, in 1873. Agamemnon was broken up in 1870 and Victor Emmanuel was sold out in 1899.
70 m
(230 ft)
20 m
(66 ft)
First Nemi ship 1st century ADsunk, then burnedA slightly smaller ship discovered in Lake Nemi and built around the same time as the second ship; its purpose is unknown. Also destroyed in World War II.

69–60 meters (226–197 feet)

LengthBeamNameServiceFateNotes
69 m
(226 ft)
15.7 m
(51 ft 10 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Victory 1765–still in commission, but not for active service; effectively museum shipA 104-gun ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Oldest naval ship still in commission and the only remaining ship of the line. Currently in dry dock at Portsmouth as a museum ship. It is the flagship of the First Sea Lord.
69 m
(226 ft)

(estimated)
11.7 m
(38 ft)
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Vasa 1628sunk, later museum shipA warship sunk on her maiden voyage when a gale forced water onto the ship; she fell over on her port side and sank. The ship was well preserved and recovered relatively intact in 1961. She is now in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. [24] Her sparred length is estimated at 69 meters, but her measured deck length (between perpendiculars) is 47.5 meters (155.8 ft). [25]
67.97 m
(233 ft)
11.95 m
(39.2 ft)
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg Joseph H. Scammell 1884–1891wreckedA cargo ship wrecked and looted by locals off the coast of Torquay, Australia.
67.24 m
(220.6 ft)
18.9 m
(62 ft)
Bandera de Espana 1760-1785.svg Doce Apóstoles class 1753–1806variedTwelve Spanish sister ships of the line built in the Ferrol royal shipyards under supervision of the Marquis of Ensenada and nicknamed "the Twelve Apostles". They had between 68 and 74 guns each.
67 m
(220 ft)
18.54 m
(60 ft 10 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Albert 1854–1884broken upA 121-gun three-decker of the Royal Navy, designed as sail-powered only but converted to screw propulsion during construction.
67 m
(219 ft)
11 m
(36 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg C.A. Thayer 1895–museum shipOne of the last schooners of the West Coast lumber trade, currently exhibited at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
67–63 m
(219–207 ft)
11–10 m
(35–34 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Britannia class 1840–1880variedWooden paddlers that were the first fleet of the Cunard Line and the first year round scheduled Atlantic steamship service, with a capacity for 115 passengers. Most units were sold to different European navies in 1849–1850.
66.42 m
(218 ft)
17.67 m
(58 ft)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Reina Doña Isabel II
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Rey Don Francisco de Asís
1852–1889
1853–1866
(respectively)
sunk, then broken up
decommissioned
(respectively)
Twin sister ships of the line, the last built in Spain. Isabel II served in Mexico and Morocco before becoming a school ship in 1860, a hulk in 1870, and a prison ship in 1873; she sunk in 1889 but was salvaged and broken up. Francisco de Asís saw little use due to being considered obsolete at the time of construction.
66 m
(216 ft 7.5 in)
18.3 m
(60 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Queen 1839–1871broken up110-gun first-rate ship of the line and last purely sailing battleship built by the Royal Navy; all subsequent ones were also fitted with a steam engine. Refitted and converted to screw propulsion in 1859.
66 m
(218 ft)
15 m
(50 ft)
Flag of England.svg Grace Dieu 1420–1439burnedAn English carrack used as King Henry V's flagship. She burned after being hit by lightning.
66 m
(217 ft)
Unknown Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Princess Royal 1853–1872broken up91-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Served in the Baltic campaign of the Crimean War and afterward in the East Indies and China Station.
65.9 m
(216.2 ft)
13 m
(43 ft)
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg Hamburg 1886–1925beached, later burnedA three-masted barque. The beached ship burned to the waterline in 1936, but the lower hull was buried and preserved in river silt.
65.18 m
(213.8 ft)
16.24 m
(53.3 ft)
Flag of France.svg Océan class 1788–1905varied118-gun three-decker ships of the line, built by the French Navy between 1788 and 1854.
65 m
(213.2 ft)
10.6 m Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Tenacious 2000–still operationalA ship designed for the disabled.
65 m
(213 ft)
11.24 m
(50 ft 1 in)
Flag of France.svg Hermione 2014–still operationalNamed after the 1779 French frigate but built following the plans of the 1783 British frigate HMS Concorde, both smaller. Construction started in 1995 and used mostly traditional tools and techniques.
64.9 m
(212 ft 11 in)
15.1 m
(49 ft 6 in)
Naval Ensign of Norway (1844-1905).svg Kong Sverre 1860–1932scrappedA steam and sail powered frigate of the Royal Norwegian Navy originally planned to be "Europe's Horror", the most technologically advanced warship in the world. However, after several delays in construction, it was found already obsolete at the time of launch and it spent most of its career in storage at a harbor. It was a school ship between 1894 and 1918, when it was put again in storage due to poor maintenance, and was never fit for service again. [26]
64.05 m
(210.1 ft)
18.11 m
(59.4 ft)
Flag of France.svg Valmy 1847–1891scrappedLargest three-decker of the French Navy and largest tall ship ever built in France. Unlike other sail ships of its time, it was never modified for steam power despite being difficult to manoeuvre, and often had to be towed by smaller steam ships during its service in the Crimean War. It was turned into a school ship in 1864.
64 m
(210.0 ft)
17.3 m US Naval Jack 26 stars.svg USS Pennsylvania 1837–1861burned to prevent captureLargest and most heavily armed American wooden sailing warship. It mounted 120 guns and made only one voyage. After being laid up at the Norfolk Navy Yard for several years, it was burned to prevent its capture by the Confederates at the start of the American Civil War.
64 m
(210.0 ft)
11.94 m
(39.2 ft)
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg Calburga
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HCMS Calburga)
1890–1915sunkThe last Canadian square-rigger barque of large tonnage, built for trade with South America and Britain. It was made of spruce but fastened with copper and iron. Converted to a transport ship in World War I and sunk during a storm off the coast of Wales in 1915.
63.16 m
(207 ft 3 in)
10.84 m
(35 ft 7 in)
Naval Ensign of Germany.svg Walther von Ledebur
(later Naval Ensign of Germany.svg Mühlhausen)
1966–2007decommissionedBuilt as a prototype for a new German Navy class of ocean-going minesweepers with an all-glued laminated timber hull that never entered production. It served as a trials ship until 1994, when it was rebuilt as a training and support vessel for mine-clearing divers, renamed and recommissioned in this capacity.
62.6 m
(205 ft 6 in)
16.6 m
54 ft 5 in
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Caledonia class 1808–1918varied120-gun first rate ships of the line. Originally sail-powered, they were all converted to steam in the 1850s.
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Rodney class 1833–1956Three 90-gun second rate ships of the line. They were among the last unarmored ships of the Royal Navy to be in full commission.
62.6 m
(205 ft 6 in)
16.59 m
54 ft 5 in
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Albion class 1842–1905all broken upThree 90-gun second rate ships of the line. Originally sail-powered, they were all converted to steam in the 1850s.
62.5 m
(205 ft 1 in)
16.2 m
53 ft 2 in
Flag of France.svg Hercule class 1836–1908varied100-gun ships of the line of the French Navy. The first were sail powered only; later units were converted to steam, and the last one was built with an engine.
62.2 m
(204.0 ft)
13.3 m Naval Jack of the United States.svg USS Constitution 1797–still in commission, but not for active serviceThe second-oldest commissioned warship (after the Royal Navy's HMS Victory) in the world and the oldest wooden ship still sailing.
62 m
(204 ft)
18 m
(60 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Windsor Castle
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Cambridge)
1858–1908broken upA 102-gun first-rate triple-decker of the Royal Navy. Served as a gunnery ship off Plymouth after 1869.
62 m
(205 ft)
16.3 m
(53 ft 6 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Nelson class 1814–1928all broken up120-gun first rate ships of the line of the Royal Navy. All three units built were sail-powered only originally, though the first (HMS Nelson) was given a steam engine in 1860.
61.81 m
(202.79 ft)
17.17 m
(56.3 ft)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg América 1766–1823broken upA Spanish 64-gun ship of the line built in Havana that served in the Spanish–Portuguese War (1776–77), American Revolutionary War, French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.
61.72 m
(202.5 ft)
16.73 m
(54.9 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Royal Louis 1758–1773broken upA 116-gun First-rate ship of the line of the French Royal Navy.
61.4 m
(201.4 ft)
16.69 m
(54.8 ft)
Flag of France.svg Duquesne
Flag of France.svg Tourville
1847–1887
1853–1878
unknown
scrapped
(respectively)
Sister 90-gun sail and steam ships of the line that were used in the Crimean War and the French Intervention in Mexico. Later on, Duquesne was used as floating barracks, and Tourville as a prison ship for survivors of the Paris Commune.
61.3 m
(201.1 ft)
16.2 m
(53 ft)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Santísima Trinidad 1769–1805scuttled after captureOne of the few four-deckers ever built with 136 guns. [27] Reputed to be the largest warship in the world until surpassed by the French Ócean class in the early 1790s. It sailed poorly and was nicknamed "The Ponderous" and "El Escorial of the Seas". Despite this, it saw extensive action in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars, even surviving and escaping successfully after being attacked by four warships and losing all her sails at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent. It was ultimately captured and scuttled after the Battle of Trafalgar. A non-seaworthy replica and a ship fit in its likeness (and thus not a true replica) exist in Alicante and Málaga, respectively.
61.06 m
(200 ft 4 in)
10.8 m
(35 ft 5 in)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Lammermuir 1864–1876lost at seaAn extreme composite clipper, built to replace the ship of the same name wrecked the year before, which had been the favorite of the company owner, Jock Willis. Disappeared while sailing from Adelaide, Australia to London.
61 m
(200 ft)
15.64 m
(51.3 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Soleil Royal 1670–1692burned by fireships Flagship of the French Western Squadron during the Nine Years' War. After sustaining great damage in the Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue, it docked at Cherbourg for repairs, where it was surprised and subsequently destroyed.
61 m
(199 ft)
13 m
(43 ft)
US Naval Jack 48 stars.svg USS Constellation 1854–1955museum shipA sloop-of-war and the last sail-only warship designed and built by the US Navy. Some of her materials were salvaged from the smaller USS Constellation of 1797, which saw action at the Quasi-War, Barbary Wars and War of 1812. The second Constellation served in the American Civil War.
61 m
(200 ft)
10 m
(32.8 ft)
Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1862-1889).svg Fu Po 1870–?unknownAn armed transport of the Fujian Fleet active during the Sino-French War. It was hulked in 1890, but was refitted for service in 1893 as a response to piracy. Its later fate is unknown.
60.6 m
(199 ft)
16.2 m
(53 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Terrible
Pavillon royal de France.svg Majestueux
(later Flag of France.svg Républicain)
1779–1804
1780–c.1807
(respectively)
broken up
decommissioned
(respectively)
Sister 110-gun ships of the line.
60.5 m
(198 ft)
16.28 m
(53 ft)
Flag of France.svg Suffren class 1829–1911all broken upA 90-gun ship of the line design of the French Navy, first to have straight walls instead of tumblehome. The heightened center of gravity was compensated with new underwater stabilisers. All units completed after 1840 were modified to have steam in addition to sail power.
60.42 m
(198.2 ft)
16.24 m
(53.3 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Royal Louis
(later Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Républicain)
1780–1794wreckedA 106-gun (elevated to 110 in 1786) ship of the line of the French Navy. Dismasted at the Glorious First of June (1792), it narrowly avoided capture and was restored to service. It was lost two years later during the Croisière du Grand Hiver.
Flag of France.svg Commerce de Paris class 1804–1915all broken up110-gun ships of the line developed as a modification of the earlier Océan class. Only two (Commerce de Paris and Iéna) were completed before Napoleon's defeat and entered service; the others were dismantled in 1814 while still in the Antwerp shipyard.
60.4 m
(198 ft)
14.9 m
(49 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Auguste
(later Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Jacobin)
1779–1795sunkAn 80-gun ship of the line active in the American and French revolutionary wars. Sunk during a storm along with most of her crew.
60.22 m
(197 ft 7 in)
16.10 m
(52 ft 10 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Princess Charlotte
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Royal Adelaide
1825–?
1828–?
(respectively)
unknownTwin 104-gun ships of the line, with a design inspired on HMS Victory. Their fate after being sold out of the Royal Navy in 1875 and 1905 (respectively), is unknown.
60 m
(196 ft)
16 m
(52 ft 6 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Trafalgar
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Camperdown)
1820–?unknownOrdered as a 98-gun second rate but re-rated and launched as a 106 gun first rate ship of the line. It was placed on harbor service in 1854, hulked in 1857, and renamed HMS Pitt in 1882. It was sold out of the Navy in 1906.
60 m
(197 ft)
6.2 m
(20 ft)
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg La Real 1568–1572?possibly sunk after battleFlagship galley of Don John of Austria at the Battle of Lepanto (1571). Though victorious in its duel with the Ottoman flagship Sultana, it was so damaged upon its return to Messina that the victory feast was not made aboard. Its fate is unknown but it might have sunk there shortly after. [28] A non-seaworthy replica was built in 1971 for the fourth centenary of the battle and is on display at the Maritime Museum of Barcelona.

59–56 meters (193–184 feet)

LengthBeamNameServiceFateNotes
59.8 m
(196 ft)
16.2 m
(53 ft)
Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Invincible 1780–1808struckA 110-gun, first rate ship of the line of the French Navy. Saw action during the American Revolutionary War.
59.8 m
(196.19 ft)
14.9 m
(48.88 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Saint-Esprit class 1765–1799variedThree 80-gun ships of the line (Saint-Esprit, Languedoc, and Couronne). Although considered sisters, each was built with a different design.
59.78 m
(196 ft 1 in)
15.47 m
(50 ft 9 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Calcutta 1831–1908broken upAn 84-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Initially put in reserve, she was mobilized for the Crimean War in 1855 but saw no action as it was deemed obsolete for modern naval warfare. However, she later served as a flagship in the Second Opium War. Since 1865, she served as a gunnery ship and was moored at Devonport.
59.7 m
(195.9 ft)
13.2 m
(43.3 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Provence 1763–1786broken upA 64-gun French ship of the line deployed against the Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean and at the Caribbean theater of the American Revolutionary War, where its captain was killed in action at the Battle of Grenada. After being decommissioned twice from the Navy, it became a merchantman for the Compagnie de Chine.
59.5 m
(195 ft)
16.2 m
(53 ft)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Santa Ana class 1784–1817variedEight sister ships of the line built in Ferrol that served in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic during the Napoleonic Wars. Also called "Los Meregildos" after San Hermenegildo, built in 1789.
59.3 m
(194.55 ft)
15.3 m
(50.20 ft)
Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Tonnant class
Flag of France.svg Bucentaure class
1789–1887
1803–1868
(respectively)
variedTwo different 80-gun ship of the line classes built during the Napoleonic Wars.
59.21 m
(194 ft 3 in)
16.54 m
(54 ft 3 in)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg San José
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS San Josef)
1783–1849broken upA 114-gun first rate ship of the line captured by the British at the Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797). Became a guard and gunnery training ship at HMNB Devonport.
59.2 m
(194 ft)
15.6 m
(51 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Soleil-Royal 1749–1759burnt to prevent captureFlagship of the French Navy at the Battle of Quiberon Bay. During the encounter, it run aground and was burnt by its own crew to prevent its capture by the British. It was the first 80-gun two-decker to use the 24-pounder long gun on her second battery, rising its firing power to that of a three-decker.
59.08 m
(193 ft 10 in)
15.96 m
(52 ft 4.5 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Canopus class 1821–1929varied84-gun second rate two-deckers of the Royal Navy based on HMS Canopus, a Tonnant-class ship captured in 1798.
59 m
(192 ft)
15.55 m
(51 ft)
Bandera de Espana 1760-1785.svg San Pedro de Alcántara 1772–1786sunkA Spanish 64-gun ship of the line built in Ferrol, but based on French designs. Served in the Pacific until 1786, when she sailed to Europe with a cargo of precious metals and several prisoners of Tupac Amaru II's rebellion, then sunk off Peniche, Portugal with great loss of life.
59 m
(192 ft)
15 m
(49 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Waterloo
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Bellerophon)
1818–?unknownAn 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Renamed in 1824 and sold in 1892, its later fate is unknown.
58.93 m
(193 ft 4 in)
15.3 m
(50 ft 3.5 in)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Deux Frères
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Juste)
1784–1811broken upAn 80-gun French ship of the line captured and commissioned into the British Royal Navy after the Glorious First of June in 1794.
58.8 m
(193 ft)
15.9 m
(52 ft 1 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Sans Pareil 1851–1867broken upA Royal Navy 70-gun screw propelled ship of the line, based on the lines of a French Tonnant class of the same name captured in 1794.
58.74 m
(192 ft 8.5 in)
15 m
(49 ft 4.5 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Rochfort 1814–1826broken upA Royal Navy 74-gun third rate ship of the line designed by the French émigré Jean-Louis Barrallier.
58.5 m
(191.9 ft)
11 m
(36 ft 3 in)
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Götheborg I [note 5] 1738–1745sunkBuilt in Stockholm for trade with China and named after Gothenburg, the home port of the Swedish fleet. After three journeys, it crashed on the Knipla Börö rock near Gothenburg and sank within 900 m (3,000 ft) of its berth. All men aboard survived and most of its cargo could be salvaged. The shipwreck, which remained visible from the surface for several years, was excavated in 1986–1992.
Flag of Sweden.svg Götheborg II 2003–museum shipA seaworthy replica of the 1738 ship.
58.3 m
(191.2 ft)
16.0 m
(52.5 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS St Lawrence
(later Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg St Lawrence)
1814–?hulked, then sunkBuilt in the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard in Upper Canada during the War of 1812 to fight on the Great Lakes, the only British ship of the line to be launched and entirely operated on freshwater. She never saw action and was decommissioned already in 1815. In 1832 she was sold to a private company and was used as a storage hulk until her sinking.
58 m
(190 ft)
16 m
(53 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Royal George
Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg HMS Queen Charlotte
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Ville de Paris
1788–1822
1790–1800
1795–1845
(respectively)
variedFirst rate ships of the line of the Royal Navy active in the Napoleonic wars. The first two were built to the same design and carried 100 guns; Ville de Paris (named after a captured French ship) carried 110.
57.96 m
(190 ft 2 in)
11 m
(36 ft)
Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1862-1889).svg Yangwu 1872–1884sunkA corvette flagship of the Fujian Fleet, and the largest ship built at the Foochow Arsenal during the Imperial Fleet's westernization program of 1868–1875. It exploded and subsequently sunk during the Battle of Fuzhou in the Sino-French War.
57.9 m
(190 ft)
17.3 m
(56 ft 9 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Vanguard-class 1835–1929varied80-gun second rate ships of the line of the Royal Navy. Nine were completed under the original sail ship design, and others were modified or converted into steam.
57.9 m
(190 ft)
16 m
(52 ft 6 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Queen Charlotte
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Excellent)
1810–1892broken upA 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built to replace the ship of the same name lost in 1800. Assigned to anti-slavery and anti-smuggling patrol off the coast of Africa until 1859, when she became a training ship.
57.9 m
(190 ft)
15.8 m
(52 ft)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Europa 1789–1801abandonedA Spanish third-rate ship of the line that served in Europe and the Pacific during the French Revolutionary Wars. It fell into disrepair and eventually rotted away while being anchored in Manila.
57.5 m
(188.6 ft)
9 m
(29.5 ft)
Flag of Sweden.svg Sigyn
(later Flag of Finland.svg Sigyn)
1887–1938museum shipA Swedish trade barque, sold to Finland in 1927. Currently preserved in Turku.
57.2 m
(187.7 ft)
14 m
(45.9 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Six Corps 1762–1780broken upA 74-gun ship of the line in the French reserve fleet, named after the six merchant guilds of Paris, who donated the money for its construction.
57.1 m
(188 ft 4 in)
15.47 m
(50 ft 9 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Boscawen
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Wellesley)
1844–1914burnedA 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. From 1873 she served as a training ship at Wellesley Nautical School.
57 m
(188 ft)
15.67 m
(51 ft 5 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Boyne
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Excellent)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Union
1810–1861
1811–1833
(respectively)
both broken upSister 98-gun second rate shis of the line of the Royal Navy.
57 m
(188 ft)
15 m
(49 ft 2.75 in)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Formidable
(later Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg HMS Ham)
1751–1768broken upFrench 80-gun ship of the line captured by the British at the Battle of Quiberon Bay (1759), during the French and Indian War.
57 m
(187 ft)
7.7 m
(25 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg La Réale 1694–1720decommissionedFlagship of the French Mediterranean galley fleet, built in Marseilles.
56.85 m
(186.5 ft)
15.59 m
(51.1 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Océan 1756–1759burntFrench flagship at the Battle of Lagos, where it ran aground and was burnt by the British.
56.6 m
(186 ft)
10.5 m
(34 ft)
Flag of the Dutch East India Company.svg Batavia 1628–1629wrecked Dutch East India Company ship wrecked near the Houtman Abrolhos off western Australia, as a result of a failed mutiny. Though only 40 people of 322 aboard died in the sinking, over 200 perished later as a result of the lack of drinking water and infighting among the survivors.
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Batavia replica 1995–museum shipSeaworthy replica of the 1628 ship, built in 1995 and currently housed at the Bataviawerf in Lelystad.
56.52 m
(185.4 ft)
15.59 m
(51.15 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Royal Louis 1692–1727broken upA 120-gun first-rate ship of the line, named after a smaller, earlier ship it replaced.
56.52 m
(185.4 ft)
14.46 m
(47.4 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Duc de Bourgogne
(later Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Peuple)
1752–1800broken upAn 80-gun ship of the line and flagship of the French expeditionary fleet to assist the North American rebels during the American Revolutionary War; it carried the Count of Rochambeau and saw action at the Battle of the Saintes. Its hull was coppered in 1761.
56.5 m
(185 ft)
15.3 m
(50 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Foudroyant 1724–1743broken upA first-rate ship of the line that was broken up without ever taking to the sea.
56.3 m
(184.7 )
14.2 m
(46.6 ft)
Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Séduisant
Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Mercure
1783–1796
1783–1798
(respectively)
wrecked
burnt after battle
(respectively)
Twin 74-gun ships of the line of the French Navy during the Revolutionary Wars. Séduisant was wrecked accidentally during the expedition to Ireland and Mercure was burnt after being captured at the Battle of the Nile.
56.11 m
(184 ft 1 in)
11.05 m
(36 ft 3 in)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Marco Polo 1851–1883wreckedFirst cargo and emigrant ship to sail from England to Australia in under six months. It was run aground off Cavendish, Prince Edward Island deliberately when its pumps failed during a storm.
56 m
(185 ft)
16 m
(51 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Neptune class 1797–1857all broken upThree 98-gun second rate ships of the line of the Royal Navy, mostly used during the Napoleonic Wars.
56 m
(185 ft)
15.88 m
(52 ft 1 in)
Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg HMS Royal Sovereign
(later Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Captain)
1786-1841hulked and broken upA 100-gun first rate ship of the line that served at the Glorious First of June, the First Battle of Groix, and as Admiral Collingwood's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.
56 m
(184 ft)
15 m
(49 ft)
Pavillon royal de France.svg Bretagne
(later Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Révolutionnaire)
1766–1796broken upFlagship of the Brest fleet during the American Revolutionary War, with 110 guns.
56 m
(183 ft 9 in)
unknown Flag Portugal (1707).svg Santa Rosa 1715–1726explodedA Portuguese galleon destroyed by an accidental gunpowder explosion while sailing in convoy from Salvador, Brazil to Lisbon. It previously saw action against the Ottomans in the Mediterranean.

Longest wooden ships by ensign

NationalityNavyLengthMerchantLength
Australia Civil Ensign of Australia.svg City of Adelaide (1864)74.4 m
(244 ft 1 in)
Belgium Flag of Belgium (civil).svg British Queen (1839)75 m
(245 ft)
Canada Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg William D. Lawrence (1874) [note 6] 102 m
(335 ft)
China Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1862-1889).svg Haian (1872)
Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1862-1889).svg Yuyuen (1873)
91 m
(300 ft)
Imperial standard of the Qing Emperor.svg Tek Sing (c. 1822)50 m
(165 ft)
Denmark Naval Ensign of Denmark.svg Jylland (1860)102 m
(335 ft)
Flag of Denmark.svg Kaskelot (1948)47 m
(153 ft)
England English White Ensign 1620.svg HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)71.5 m
(234.6 ft)
Egypt Horus as falcon (mirror).svg Khufu ship (2500 BC)43.6 m
(143 ft)
Finland Flag of Finland.svg Sigyn (1887)57.5 m
(188.6 ft)
France Flag of France.svg Rochambeau (1865)115 m
(377.3 ft)
Naval Flag of the Kingdom of France (Civil Ensign).svg Provence (1763)59.7 m
(195.9 ft)
Germany Naval Ensign of Germany.svg Walther von Ledebur (1966)63.16 m
(207 ft 3 in)
Flag of the German Empire.svg Jacob Fritz (1856)80.9 m
(265.3 ft)
Greece Flag of Greece.svg Olympias (1987)36.9 m
(121 ft 1 in)
Hanseatic League Hanse Lubeck.svg Adler von Lübeck (1567)78.3 m
(256.9 ft)
Hanse Danzig.svg Peter von Danzig (c. 1462)51 m
(167.3 ft)
Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg Bounty (1978)42 m
(138 ft)
Italy State Flag and War Ensign of the Kingdom of Sardinia (1816-1848).svg Cambria (1845)67 m
(219 ft)
Ireland Flag of Ireland.svg Dunbrody (2001)53.7 m
(176 ft 2 in)
Japan Flag of the Tokugawa Shogunate.svg Kasuga (1862)73.6 m
(241.5 ft)
Flag of the Tokugawa Shogunate.svg Date Maru (1613)55.35 m
(181 ft 7 in)
Korea Ensign of the Joseon Navy.png Turtle ship (1591)36.6 m
(120 ft)
Kuwait Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Hashemi-II (2001)83.7 m
(274.6 ft)
Malta Flag of the Order of St. John (various).svg San Giovanni (1796)49.8 m
(163 ft 3 in)
Netherlands Flag of the Netherlands.svg Chatham (1800)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Koninklijke Hollander (1806)
55.2 m
(181.1 ft)
Flag of the Dutch East India Company.svg Batavia (1628)56.6 m
(186 ft)
New Zealand Civil Ensign of New Zealand.svg Edwin Fox (1853)48 m
(157 ft)
Norway Naval Ensign of Norway (1844-1905).svg Kong Sverre (1860)64.9 m
(212 ft 11 in)
Norge-Unionsflagg-1844.svg Kommandør Svend Foyn (1874)102 m
(335 ft)
Portugal Flag Portugal (1830).svg Dom Fernando II e Glória (1845)87 m
(284 ft)
Flag Portugal (1830).svg Ferreira (1869)85.34 m
280 ft
Prussia Preussische Kriegsflagge ab 1850.svg SMS Barbarossa (1840)63 m
(207 ft)
Roman Empire Nemi Ship II (1st century AD)73 m
(240 ft)
Caligula's Giant Ship (c.37 AD)c. 95.1 m
(312 ft)
Russia Naval Ensign of Russia.svg Derzhava (1871)94.8 m
(311 ft)
Flag of Russia.svg Belyana type (19th century)100 m
(328 ft)
Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg Great Michael (1512)73.2 m
249.8 ft
Spain Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Sagunto (1869)89.5 m
(283 ft 8 in)
Flag of Spain.svg El Galeón (2017)55 m
(180 ft)
Sweden Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Vasa (1628)69 m
(226 ft)
Sweden-Flag-1562.svg Götheborg (1738)58.5 m
(191.9 ft)
Ottoman Empire Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg Mahmudiye (1829)76.15 m
(249.8 ft)
United Kingdom Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Orlando (1858)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Mersey (1858)
102.1 m
(335 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Columbus (1824)108 m
(356 ft)
United States US Naval Jack 36 stars.svg USS Dunderberg (1865)115 m
(377.3 ft)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wyoming (1909)140 m
(450 ft)

Claimed but poorly documented

LengthNameCompletedNotes
304.8 m (1000 ft) Wang Jun's tower ship 3rd century ADThe largest of the armored floating fortresses ( louchuan ) that were used as flagships of river flotillas during the Han and Jin dynasties. According to the Tang dynasty's Taibai Jinjing, it was used on the Yangtze during the Jin conquest of Wu and was equipped with special hanging galleries to transport horses and war chariots. Though oar-powered only, tower ships tended to lose control when faced with wind changes, and this caused their abandonment.
144–180 m (472–591 ft), [29]
or 88.56 m LOA (290 ft) and 80.51 m (264 ft) LOD. [30]
Surya Majapahit Gold.svg Pati Unus' jong c.1512 Javanese seagoing junk type claimed to carry up to 1000 passengers. Though the early 16th century Portuguese did not record exact sizes, they remarked that the ships were so monstrously big that Flor do Mar and Anunciada (the largest Portuguese ships of the time) did not seem ships when next to them. [31] Irawan Djoko Nugroho estimate it to be 4–5 times the length of Flor do Mar, which was about 36 m long (Malaysian reconstruction). [29] His estimation has been contested as it is not based on engineering grounds, Muhammad Averoes estimated it with an LOA of 88.56 m and LOD of 80.51 m. [30]
135–150 m
(+500 ft)
Noah's Ark c.2348 BCA vessel claimed in the Book of Genesis to have been built by Noah to house a pair of every animal kind on Earth during the Deluge. The story mirrors the older Mesopotamian myth of Utnapishtim. Three full-sized, non-seaworthy replicas exist: [32] one in Hong Kong, [33] one in The Netherlands, [34] and one in Kentucky near the Creation Museum of Answers in Genesis.
c. 135 by 55 metres (443 by 180 ft), [35] [36] [ dubious ]
70 m (230 ft) long (modern estimate) [37]
大明 Chinese treasure ship 15th century ADThe 18th century History of the Ming dynasty claims that the largest 15th century junks of the Ming emperors were more than 400 feet (120 m) long, and calculations based on 15+ ft stern rudder posts found have been used to claim total ship lengths of 400 to 600 feet (180 m). However, this has been disputed. [38] [39] [40] [41] Xin Yuan'ou, a shipbuilding engineer and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, argues that it is highly unlikely that Zheng He's treasure ships were 450 ft long, and suggests that they were probably closer to 200–250 feet (61–76 m) in length, [42] [43] other estimate were 309–408 feet (94–124 m) in length and 160–166 feet (49–51 m) in width. [44]
128 m by 18 m (420×58 ft) Pt eagle.png Tessarakonteres Late 3rd century BCA Greek galley with 40 lines of oarsmen (for a total of 4000), from which her name derives. It reportedly had an additional crew of 400 and could transport 2850 soldiers according to Athenaeus and Plutarch. She was built for Ptolemy IV Philopator. [45] [46] [47] [48] Modern naval engineers have speculated that the ship, of which there is no surviving depiction, had two twin hulls rather than one. According to Plutarch the ship proved difficult and dangerous to move during tests. As early as the 19th century, the dimensions of the ship have been contested since it caused several problems in terms of maneuverability and structural integrity. [49]
110 m (360 ft)[ dubious ]
or 70–75 m (230–246 ft) according to modern estimates [50]
Vergina Sun WIPO.svg Leontophoros c.280 BCA warship (octere) built for Lysimachos. After his death, it was used by Ptolemy Keraunos to defeat Antigonus I in a battle in 280 BC. The length estimate is based on Memnon of Heraclea's claim that each line had 100 oarsmen, bringing the total to 1600. [51]
100 m (328 ft) length
17 m (56 ft) breadth [52]
Flag of Aceh Sultanate.svg Cakra Dunia Before 1629 Acehnese 98-gun galley class numbering 47 units. One captured by the Portuguese was renamed the Espanto do Mundo ("Terror of the Universe"). Armed with 18 large cannons (five 55-pounders at the bow, one 25-pounder at the stern, the rest were 17 and 18-pounders), 80 falcons and many swivel guns. It was claimed to have three masts with square sails and topsails, 35 oars on each side, and a crew of 700 men.
91.4 m (300 ft) long, 9.1 m (30 ft) wide, 6.1 m (20 ft) depth, 3.4 m (11 ft) freeboard [53] A gurap reported by H. Warington Smyth Before 1902A two-masted trading ship from the Nusantara archipelago, using fore-and-aft sail made with cloth, with yard and gaff topsail. It is built from giam wood.
87 m (285 ft) long, 18 m (59 ft) high, [54] :55 and 13 m (43 ft) wide. [55] :61 Pt eagle.png Ptolemy IV Philopator's thalamegos c.200 BCA river going pomp boat of Ptolemy IV Philopator whose name translates to "Rooms Carrier". [45] It is speculated that the ship had two hulls, with one single mast with a yard and sail, and is said to have been towed from the banks of the Nile.
c. 63–95 m by 27–32 m Hatshepsut's bargec. 1500 BCUsed to transport obelisks. [56] [57] [58] The barge may have been "too large to be equipped with a sail and not very manoeuvrable", and "would have been towed downstream by smaller vessels, also using the current, from Aswan to Thebes." [59]
55 m (180 ft) long, 14 m (46 ft) wide [60] Evaenetus, decadracma di siracusa, 410-370 ac ca.jpg Syracusia
(later Pt eagle.png Alexandria)
c. 240 BCClaimed to be the largest transport ship in Antiquity. She was designed by Archimedes and built by Archias of Corinth on the orders of Hieron II of Syracuse. It sailed only once to Alexandria, Egypt, where it was gifted to Ptolemy III Euergetes and permanently berthed.
55 m (180 ft) long, 13.7 (45 ft) m wide [61] Isis c. 150 ADDescribed by the sophist Lucian, who saw her moored at Athens' seaport of Piraeus.
45–60 m (150–195 ft) Olav Tryggvasson mynt.jpg Ormen Lange c.1000A Viking longship whose name translates as "Long Serpent", built for King Olav Tryggvason of Norway. It was said to be the largest and most powerful longship of the time.

Longest still in existence

Over 56 meters (184 feet)

LengthBeamNameService
91.1 m
(299 ft)
23.7 m
(78 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg Eureka 1890–1957
87 m
(284 ft)
13 m
(42 ft)
Flag of Portugal.svg Dom Fernando II e Glória 1845–1940
85.34 m
(280 ft)
10.97 m
36 ft
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Cutty Sark 1869–1954
83.7 m
(274.6 ft)
18.5 m
(60.7 ft)
Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Hashemi-II 2001–
74.4 m
(244 ft 1 in)
10.15 m
(33.3 ft)
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg City of Adelaide 1864–1948
71 m
(233 ft)
13.5 m
(44 ft)
Naval Ensign of Denmark.svg Jylland 1860–1908
69 m
(226 ft)
15.7 m
(51 ft 10 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Victory 1765–
69 m
(226 ft)
11.7 m
(38 ft)
Flag of Sweden.svg Vasa 1628
67 m
(219 ft)
11 m (36 ft) Flag of the United States.svg C.A. Thayer 1895–
65 m
(213.2 ft)
10.6 m Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg SV Tenacious 2000–
65 m
(213 ft)
11.24 m
(50 ft 1 in)
Flag of France.svg Hermione 2014–
62.2 m
(204.0 ft)
13.3 m
(43 ft 6 in)
Naval Jack of the United States.svg USS Constitution 1797–
61 m
(199 ft)
13 m
(43 ft)
Naval Jack of the United States.svg USS Constellation 1854–1955
58.5 m
(191.9 ft)
11 m
(36 ft 1 in)
Flag of Sweden.svg Götheborg II 2003–
57.5 m
(188.6 ft)
9 m
(29.5 ft)
Flag of Finland.svg Sigyn 1887–1938
56.6 m
(186 ft)
10.5 m
(34 ft)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Batavia replica 1995–

56–40 meters (184–131 feet)

LengthBeamNameServiceComment
55.35 m
(181 ft 7 in)
11.25 m
(36 ft 11 in)
Flag of Japan.svg San Juan Bautista 1993–A replica of the first western-style ship built in Japan, a reverse-engineered Spanish galleon built by Date Masamune for trade and diplomacy with New Spain. The original 1613 records of the House of Date were used for the replica. Displayed in a theme park of Ishinomaki, where she survived the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami intact.
55 m
(180 ft)
10.09 m
(33.1 ft)
Flag of Spain.svg El Galeón2017–A seaworthy replica of a Spanish galleon, built by the Nao Victoria Foundation and used in commercials and history themed media. [62]
54.71 m
(179 ft 6 in)
9.8 m
(32 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg "HMS" Surprise 1970–Built as a sail training ship, the "HMS" Rose (though it was never commissioned by the Royal Navy), it was modified and renamed Surprise for her part in the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World . She was sold to the Maritime Museum of San Diego in 2007. She again appeared on film as HMS Providence in the Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides .
54 m
(177 ft)
7.9 m
(27 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg Gazela 1901–1971Originally a Portuguese fishing vessel operating on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, she was sail-powered only until 1938, when an engine was installed. The ship was acquired by the Philadelphia Maritime Museum in 1971, and the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild in 1985.
53.7 m
(176 ft 2 in)
8.5 m
(27 ft 11 in)
Flag of Ireland.svg Dunbrody 2001–A replica of the Quebec-built, three-masted barque of the same name (active 1845–1875).
51.8 m
(170 ft)
11 m
(36 ft)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Gannet 1878–Last surviving Doterel-class sloop. Currently a museum ship in Chatham, Medway.
48 m
(158 ft)
8.4 m
(27.5 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg Clipper City c.1984–A private replica schooner named after a cargo clipper built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1854.
48 m
(157.5 ft)
8.5 m
(28 ft)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Kaskelot 1948–A three masted barque built by the Danish Royal Greenland Trading Company to carry supplies to eastern Greenland. Sold to private British owners in 2013.
48 m
(157 ft)
9.04 m
(29 ft 8 in)
Civil Ensign of New Zealand.svg Edwin Fox 1853–1950Last surviving ship to transport convicts to Australia; also served as a transport in the Crimean War. Currently dry-docked in New Zealand.
47 m
(154 ft 2 in)
8 m
(26 ft 3 in)
Flag of Ireland.svg Jeanie Johnston 1998–A replica of the Quebec-built three masted barque of the same name (active 1847–1858).
47 m
(153 ft)
11.5 m
(38 ft)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam 1990–A replica of the Dutch East India Company ship of the same name. Built in Iroko wood with traditional tools, and currently moored next to the Netherlands Maritime Museum.
46.25 m
(151 ft 9 in)
12.27 m
(40 ft 3 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Unicorn 1824–1964One of two surviving Leda-class frigates built after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, although her design was modified during construction, was never rigged, and served as a hulk in reserve through her whole career. She is currently preserved as a museum ship in Dundee, Scotland.
46 m
(152 ft)
10 m
(34 ft)
Flag of France.svg Étoile du Roy 1996–A three-masted sixth rate frigate built to stand in for the (historically larger) HMS Indefatigable in the British TV series Hornblower . Sold to private French owners in 2010.
46 m
(150 ft 11 in)
8 m
(26 ft 3 in)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bluenose II 1963–Slightly longer replica of the fishing schooner Bluenose (1921–1946).
45.8 m
(150 ft 4.5 in)
12.2 m
(39 ft 11 in)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Trincomalee 1817–1986The other surviving Leda-class frigate, currently moored at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool. It may be considered the oldest Royal Navy warship that is trully afloat, as HMS Victory is actually in dry dock.
45.2 m
(148.3 ft)
8 m
(26 ft)
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg Alma Doepel 1903–1999One of the oldest surviving three-masted topsail schooners. Berthed due to a lack of funds to restore it.
44.2 m
(145 ft)
7.3 m Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Earl of Pembroke 1945–A Swedish-built three masted barque originally used to haul timber in the Baltic Sea. Sold to private British owners in 1979.
43.6 m
(143 ft)
6 m
(19.5 ft)
Naval Ensign of Egypt.svg Khufu ship c. 2500 BCAn Ancient Egyptian solar barge buried at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza as part of the funerary rites for the pharaoh Khufu (a.k.a. Cheops). Found intact, though disassembled, in 1954, and restored for exhibition in 1982. It is the oldest intact, full-sized ship in the world.
43.6 m
(143 ft)
9.28 m
(30.4 ft)
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg HM Bark Endeavour Replica 1993–Replica of HMS Endeavour owned by the Australian National Maritime Museum.
43 m
(141 ft)
7.6 m
(25 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg Kalmar Nyckel 1997–A replica of the armed merchant of the same name that carried the first settlers to New Sweden in 1638.
42.7 m
(140 ft)
7.8 m
(26 ft)
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg Søren Larsen 1949–A brigantine built in Denmark for trade in the Baltic Sea. After suffering a fire in 1972, it was purchased by a British owner who remodeled it in 19th-century style and lent it for TV productions. It was purchased again by the Sydney Harbour Tallships company in 2011.
42 m
(138 ft)
7 m
(23 ft)
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Bounty 1978–Replica of HMS Bounty built for the British 1984 film The Bounty , twice the size of the original.

40–30 meters (128–98 feet)

LengthBeamNameServiceComment
40 m
(131 ft)
unknown Flag of the United States.svg Coronet 1885–One of the oldest surviving and largest schooner yachts in the world.
39.6 m
(130 ft)
6.7 m
(22 ft)
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg Southern Swan 1922–Built in Denmark for trade with Greenland; sold in Canada in the 1960s, and in Australia in 2007.
39.6 m
(130 ft)
5.7 m
(19 ft)
Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844-1922).svg Tarihi Kadırga 1600s–1839The oldest continuously maintained wooden ship in the world. Preserved in the Istanbul Naval Museum.
38.9 m
(127 ft 8 in)
10.36 ft
(34 ft)
Flag of Norway.svg Fram 1892–1912Norwegian Arctic and Antarctic exploration ship used successively by Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen. Believed to be the wooden ship ever been furtherst to both the north and south of Earth. Preserved since 1935 in Oslo's Fram Museum.
37 m
(121 ft 4 in)
6.99 m
(22 ft 11 in)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Golden Hinde 1973–A replica of the 1577 privateer Golden Hind (a.k.a. Pelican) used by Francis Drake to circunnavegate the world.
37 m
(120 ft)
7.5 m
(24.5 ft)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Arthur Foss 1889–1968Possibly the oldest surviving wooden tugboat, currently preserved in Seattle.
36.9 m
(121 ft 1 in)
5.5 m
(18 ft 1 in)
Flag of Greece.svg Olympias 1987–A replica ancient Athenian trireme built as an exercise in experimental archaeology. Also a commissioned ship in the Hellenic Navy, the only one of its kind in the world.
36 m
(118 ft)
unknown Flag of Germany.svg Lisa von Lübeck 2004–A replica of a caravel used by the Hanseatic League in the 15th century.
35 m
(115 ft)
8 m
(26 ft)
Flag of Norway.svg Draken Harald Hårfagre 2012–A private replica of a Viking longship, and the largest built in modern times.
35 m
(116 ft)
unknown Flag of the United States.svg Susan Constant 1957–A replica of the English Virginia Company ship of the same name that took part on the founding of Jamestown in 1607. Currently docked at the Jamestown Settlement living history museum.
34.5 m
(113 ft)
7 m
(23 ft)
Flag of Russia.svg Shtandart 1999–A private replica of the Russian Baltic fleet's first frigate of the same name, which was active in 1703–1727.
34 m
(113 ft)
8.38 m
(27 ft 6 in)
Flag of the United States.svg Charles W. Morgan 1841–1926Oldest surviving merchant ship and last surviving wooden whaling ship. She was restored after being nearly destroyed in a fire and is currently displayed in Mystic, Connecticut.
33 m
(108 ft)
6 m
(20 ft)
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg Windeward Bound 1992–A replica of an 1848 Boston schooner, based in Hobart, Tasmania.
32.46 m
(106 ft 6 in)
27 m
(90 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg Mayflower II 1955–A replica of the 17th century ship of the same name, commissioned by the Plimoth Plantation living history museum and built in Devon using traditional tools and the original blueprints. Its maiden voyage in 1957 also recreated the original's travel from Plymouth, England to Plymouth, Massachusetts.
32 m
(106 ft)
7.6 m
(25 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg Clearwater 1968–A river sloop built by the non-profit organization Hudson River Sloop Clearwater to promote the protection of the Hudson River and its surrounding wetlands. Its design is based on Dutch sloops of the 18th and 19th centuries.
32 m
(104 ft)
6.7 m
(22 ft)
Flag of the United States.svg Lady Maryland 1985–An educational vessel in Baltimore.
31.28 m
(102.6 ft)
7 m
(23 ft)
Flag of Spain.svg Atyla 1984–A two masted wooden schooner owned by a NGO and used as a training ship.
30 m
(100 ft)
7.4 m Flag of Japan.svg Naniwa Maru 1999–A replica of a higaki kaisen, a common trading vessel of the Edo Period. Currently displayed at the Osaka Maritime Museum.
30 m
(100 ft)
unknown Flag of Denmark.svg Havhingsten fra Glendalough 2004–A replica of the Viking longship known as Skuldelev 2 (c.1042). Built by the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark and used in the television series The Last Kingdom.

See also

Notes

  1. Originally known as City of Naples, she was one of three sister ships (the others being City of Venice and City of Genoa).
  2. Her round-bottomed hull is 42 feet (12.7 m) wide by 277 feet (83.9 m) long. The house rests on a platform extending 18 feet (5.5 m) from the hull on either side.
  3. Also Flag Portugal (1830).svg Ferreira and Flag of Portugal.svg Maria do Amparo
  4. Also Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Carrick and Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Carrick
  5. Retroactively
  6. The disposable ship Columbus (108 m) was built in Canada in 1824, and flew the British red ensign.

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Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junk (ship)</span> Traditional Chinese type of boat

A junk is a type of Chinese sailing ship with fully battened sails. There are two types of junk in China: northern junk, which developed from Chinese river boats, and southern junk, which developed from Austronesian ships visiting southern Chinese coasts since the 3rd century CE. They continued to evolve in later dynasties and were predominantly used by Chinese traders throughout Southeast Asia. Similar junk sails were also adopted by other East Asian countries, most notably Japan, where junks were used as merchant ships to trade goods with China and Southeast Asia. They were found — and in lesser numbers, are still found — throughout Southeast Asia and India, but primarily in China. Historically, a Chinese junk could be one of many types of small coastal or river ships, usually serving as a cargo ship, pleasure boat, or houseboat, but also ranging in size up to large ocean-going vessel. Found more broadly today is a growing number of modern recreational junk-rigged sailboats. There can be significant regional variations in the type of rig or the layout of the vessel; however, they all employ fully battened sails.

<i>Flying Cloud</i> (clipper) Clipper

Flying Cloud was a clipper ship that set the world's sailing record for the fastest passage between New York and San Francisco, 89 days 8 hours. The ship held this record for over 130 years, from 1854 to 1989.

<i>Champion of the Seas</i> 19th-century English clipper ship

Champion of the Seas was the second largest clipper ship destined for the Liverpool, England - Melbourne, Australia passenger service. Champion was ordered by James Baines of the Black Ball Line from Donald McKay. She was launched 19 April 1854 and was abandoned 3 January 1877, off Cape Horn.

<i>Marco Polo</i> (1851 ship)

Marco Polo was a three-masted wooden clipper ship, launched in 1851 at Saint John, New Brunswick. She was named after Venetian traveler Marco Polo. The ship carried emigrants and passengers to Australia and was the first vessel to make the round trip from Liverpool in under six months. Later in her career, the ship was used as a cargo ship before running aground off Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, in 1883.

Kyrenia ship Ancient Greek merchant ship wreck

The Kyrenia Ship is the wreck of a 4th-century BC ancient Greek merchant ship. It was discovered by Greek-Cypriot diving instructor Andreas Cariolou in November 1965 during a storm. Having lost the exact position, Cariolou carried out more than 200 dives until he re-discovered the wreck in 1967 close to Kyrenia (Keryneia) in Cyprus. Michael Katzev, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, directed a scientific excavation from 1967 to 1969. Katzev later became a co-founder of the American Institute of Nautical Archaeology. The find was extensively covered in a documentary by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation titled "With Captain, Sailors Three: The Ancient Ship of Kyrenia". The ship itself was very well preserved with more than half its hull timbers in good condition. After it was raised from the seabed, it found a new home at the Ancient Shipwreck Museum in Kyrenia Castle, where it remains on exhibit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ship replica</span> Reconstruction of a no longer existing ship

A ship replica is a reconstruction of a no longer existing ship. Replicas can range from authentically reconstructed, fully seaworthy ships, to ships of modern construction that give an impression of a historic vessel. Some replicas may not even be seaworthy, but built for other educational or entertainment purposes.

<i>Glenlee</i> (ship) 1896 steel-hulled three-masted barque

Glenlee is a steel-hulled three-masted barque, built as a cargo ship at Port Glasgow under that name in 1896 for Glasgow owners. With later owners she was named Islamount and Clarastella. From 1922 she was the sail training ship Galatea in the Spanish Navy. Since 1993, carrying her original name, Glenlee has been a museum ship at the Riverside Museum on Pointhouse Quay, Glasgow, known as The Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour.

Chinese treasure ship Large wooden vessel commanded by the Chinese admiral Zheng He

A Chinese treasure ship is a type of large wooden ship in the fleet of admiral Zheng He, who led seven voyages during the early 15th-century Ming dynasty. The size of the largest Chinese treasure ships has been a subject of controversy, with some Chinese records mentioning the size of 44 zhang or 44.4 zhang, which has been interpreted by some as over 100 m (330 ft) in length, while others have stated that Zheng He's largest ship was 70 m (230 ft) or less in length.

<i>Lammermuir</i> (1856 clipper)

Lammermuir, named for the Lammermuir Hills, was a tea clipper designed by William Pile. She was the first clipper owned by Jock Willis Shipping Line. She was a fast sailer, being the second ship home in the 1858-59 tea season. She was a favourite of John Willis senior.

<i>Great Republic</i> (1853 clipper)

When launched in 1853, Great Republic was the largest wooden ship in the world. She shared this title with another American-built ship, the steamship Adriatic. She was also the largest full-rigged ship ever built in the United States. She was built by Donald McKay for trade on his own account to Australia.

<i>Preussen</i> (ship) German steel-hulled five-masted ship-rigged windjammer sunk in Crab Bay after a collision

Preussen (PROY-sin) was a German steel-hulled, five-masted, ship-rigged sailing ship built in 1902 for the F. Laeisz shipping company and named after the German state and kingdom of Prussia. She was the world's only ship of this class with five masts, carrying six square sails on each mast.

<i>Sea Witch</i> (clipper) American sailing cargo ship

Sea Witch was an American clipper ship designed by naval architect John W. Griffiths for the China trading firm of Howland & Aspinwall. She was launched at Smith & Dimon in Manhattan on December 8, 1846.

<i>King Philip</i> (clipper)

King Philip was a 19th-century clipper ship launched in 1856 and wrecked in 1878. The wreck of this ship is only rarely visible; very infrequently the timbers can be seen protruding from the sands of Ocean Beach, on the Pacific Ocean coast of San Francisco, California. The wreck is the "most complete remains of an American medium clipper." This is a shipwreck of one of many ships that were wrecked in and around San Francisco Bay.

<i>Sunny South</i> (clipper) 1854 extreme clipper

Sunny South, an extreme clipper, was the only full-sized sailing ship built by George Steers, and resembled his famous sailing yacht America, with long sharp entrance lines and a slightly concave bow. Initially, she sailed in the California and Brazil trades. Sold in 1859 and renamed Emanuela, she was considered to be the fastest slaver sailing out of Havana. The British Royal Navy captured Emanuela off the coast of Africa in 1860 with over 800 slaves aboard. The Royal Navy purchased her as a prize and converted her into a Royal Navy store ship, Enchantress. She was wrecked in the Mozambique Channel in 1861.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to sailing:

Romance of the Sea was a clipper ship launched in 1853. She was "the last extreme clipper ship built by Donald McKay for the California trade". Her original figurehead was "a small female figure, intended to represent Romance, with the name of [Sir Walter] Scott on one side, and [James Fenimore] Cooper on the other - the greatest romancers of the century". She lost that figurehead during a storm on her third voyage. Some time later it was replaced by "a full-length figure of an ancient navigator, with head bent forward and right hand raised to shade his eyes as he searched for the land beyond the horizon."

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