Archaeological finds show that the Viking ships were not standardized. The Viking longships were powerful naval weapons in their time and were highly valued possessions. The Viking Ship museum in Oslo houses the remains of three such ships, the Oseberg, the Gokstad and the Tune ship. The average speed of Viking ships varied from ship to ship, but lay in the range of 5–10 knots (9.3–18.5 km/h) and the maximum speed of a longship under favorable conditions was around 15 knots (28 km/h). Later versions had a rectangular sail on a single mast, which was used to replace or augment the effort of the rowers, particularly during long journeys. Longships were fitted with oars along almost the entire length of the boat itself.
The ship's shallow draft allowed navigation in waters only one meter deep and permitted arbitrary beach landings, while its light weight enabled it to be carried over portages or used bottom-up for shelter in camps. The longships were characterized as graceful, long, narrow, and light, with a shallow- draft hull designed for speed. They were all made out of wood, with cloth sails (woven wool), and had several details and carvings on the hull. The particular skills and methods employed in making longships are still used worldwide, often with modern adaptations.
The character and appearance of these ships have been reflected in Scandinavian boatbuilding traditions to the present day. The longship's design evolved over many centuries, and continued up until the sixth century with clinker-built ships like Nydam. Originally invented and used by the Norsemen (commonly known as the Vikings) for commerce, exploration, and warfare during the Viking Age, many of the longship's characteristics were adopted by other cultures, like Anglo-Saxons, and continued to influence shipbuilding for centuries. Longships were a type of specialised Scandinavian warships that have a long history in Scandinavia, with their existence being archaeologically proven and documented from at least the fourth century BC. They were not always equipped with shields. For other uses, see Longship (disambiguation). This article is about Nordic sea-going ships of the Viking Age.
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