viking

longship

the Vikings used tar and wool to build the long ships

to launch the ship, the Vikings pushed it into the water they slid it onto log rollers to make the pushing easier a Viking ship

was built beside a river. a Viking ship had one big sail made of woven wool in some ships the mast for the sail could be folded down. when there was not enough wind for the sail the men rowed with long wooden oars.

Viking ships could sail at about 18 km/h (10 mph) the steering oar was on the right-hand or starboard side of the ship sailors still use the name starboard. cargo ships carried families and farm animals too.

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