Royal Navy of Arnor and Gondor
The Royal Navy of Arnor and Gondor (Sindarin: Ceiriath Aran) constitutes the sea-going defense forces of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor.
As of III Century of Fourth Age, it is for the most part a direct continuation from its Gondorian predecessor. The sea is vital to the very existence of the Reunited Kingdom (in order to ensure the link between North and South halves) and to its defence against southern threats.
History
The Gondorian Navy started off as the descendants of the powerful Numenorean Navy, a fleet so powerful it took Eru himself to destroy. Their ships traversed between Middle Earth and the boundaries of the Undying Lands with ease, constantly sending supplies to and from. It is likely that in terms of shipbuilding technology, they’re almost on par with 17th to 18th century galleon ships. While they lack gunpowder weaponry, they make up for it with vastly superior skill in terms of navigation. Evidence is provided by the fact that the Numenoreans could sail from the Helcaraxe to Umbar, and that their fleets could literally surround an entire island. My personal estimate would be literally thousands of ships.
Of these, however, Gondor only kept a few, as most of them were lost during the Sundering and the Fall of Numenor. Gondor built up its navy over the years to fight its enemies who supported Mordor. Particularly, Harad, Rhun, and later Umbar.
Elendil and his sons, who founded Arnor and Gondor, were all great mariners; therefore, there was a long distinguished tradition of shipbuilding, sea exploration, and sea-power projection. By T.A. 830, King of Gondor Falastur was engaged in heavy fleet building, and became know as the first of the Ship-kings of Gondor.
Ship Kings
The Ship-kings was a title given to the great King Tarannon Falastur and his three successors: Eärnil I, Ciryandil and Hyarmendacil I. From TA 830 to TA 1149, these kings worked hard at adding territory to Gondor's expanse with their increasingly superior naval might.
- Tarannon Falastur (T.A. 830-913)
- Eärnil I (T.A. 913-936)
- Ciryandil (T.A. 936-1015)
- Ciryaher Hyarmendacil I (T.A. 1015-1149)
Tarannon succeeded his father Siriondil in TA 830. His brother was Tar Ciryan. He started the construction of Gondor's navies, and became known as the first of the so-called 'Ship-kings'.
Eärnil I continued with the expansionist maritime policy of his predecessor by constructing a great navy and repairing the ancient havens of Pelargir. Tarannon's nephew Eärnil I, who succeeded him, rebuilt Pelargir and built a great navy to conquer Umbar.
Later centuries
Following the rise of southern powers (either post-Numenorean realms or Haradrim havens), the Great Sea was transformed into a battleground between Gondorians (and to a much lesser extent Arnorians until T.A. 1974) and Dark Men. In this struggle, fleets were critical, not only for the defence of far-flung possessions, but also for repelling seaborne attacks against the mainland.
These fleets were usually based at Pelargir, and sometimes Umbar. After the Kin-strife in Gondor, the defeated rebels took refuge in Umbar, where they long troubled Gondor. Late in the Third Age, Thorongil (Aragorn II in disguise) led a Gondorian naval task force in a raid known as the Surprise Attack on Umbar. This was a successful raid that neutralized the Corsairs' naval power for decades, and reduced the southern pressure on Gondor at a time when its power was waning. During the War of the Ring, Pelargir was overrun by Corsairs once again. Their fleet of some fifty great ships and many more smaller vessels laid in dock, ready to sail to Harlond.
Organisation
Initially, the defence of the coasts and the approaches to the Anduin was borne by the great unified fleet. In the late Third Age the navy was progressively split into several regional commands, while a central fleet was maintained at Pelargir, guarding the city and forming the core of naval expeditions.
Following the Fo.A. 188 reorganisation, the Royal Navy was subdivided into a complex system composed of three elements.
The central fleet is based at Pelargir. Four main naval commands exist at Umbar, Pelargir, Lond Daer, and at Grey Havens. Each Command is under the leadership of an Admiral and consists of at least a battle squadron and auxiliary units, of an arsenal and of administrative staff. Each Command also controls one or more other minor harbours, under the leadership of a Lord-Captain or of a Captain-at-Sea, which have purely defensive and police tasks and subordinate to the local provincial military commander.
Crews
The bulk of a ship's crew is formed by the sailors and by the oarsmen. A ship's crew, regardless of its size, is organized as a single company of men. The ship's company is headed by a Captain-at-Sea with a Commander or a Lieutenant as his deputy, while a clerk supervises a small administrative staff. Among the crew were also a number junior officers (Lieutenants and Bannermen) and specialists.
Squadrons
Squadrons, most likely of ten ships each, were put under a Lord-Captain, who often rises from the ranks of the Captains. Admirals are equally career officers and appointed positions.
Sea Guard
The Sea Guard (Sindarin: Aeargwaith) is the marine infantry of the Royal Navy. The Sea Guard is an infantry force that specializes in the support of naval and army operations at sea and on land. In the Reunited Kingdom, the marine infantry is an integral part of the Royal Navy. Tasks undertaken by marine infantry include helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship, the boarding of vessels during combat or capture of prize ships, and providing manpower for raiding ashore in support of the naval objectives.
The oarsmen have to be capable of fighting the crews of the opposing ships hand-to-hand. Crewmen could sign on as naval infantry, rowers/seamen, craftsmen and various other jobs, though all personnel serving in the royal fleet are classed as soldiers, regardless of their function. The naval infantry is trained specifically for combat duties.
Pelargir is the base for Gondor's expeditions and control of the southern seas. Hailing from the port city of Pelargir, the Royal Marines protect its trade and its merchants. They are well-trained for both land and sea combat, but prefer to fight on the deck of the King's Ships. Their mobile armour and devastating javelins ensure that the vessels of the White Tree are well-protected at all time, at all costs.
The Sea Guard are usually used to protect the trade routes and the merchant ships, although they also have the role of city guards of Pelargir, Lond Daer and the Grey Havens. They consist only of professional soldiers (Maethorin). They are trained with spear and bow, and carry both to battle, enabling them to shower arrows upon the enemy as well as to engage them at close quarters. At sea this is particularly useful, as space is cramped aboard a ship.
Pelargir, Lond Daer and the Grey Houses house the Sea Guard Companies when they are not in sea service, and the Companies maintain a number of large and well equipped barracks. Each Marine Company spends three seasons of the year actively patrolling the seas, and it is in the remaining quarter that they recruit new warriors and train.
Tactical role
The Sea Guard may fight as effectively on land as at sea, and are equally resolute when defending the walls and fields of the West as they are when battling on the deck of a ship against sea-borne invaders. These duties require the sea-borne Maethorin to maintain a flexible armoury. The vast majority are well trained in the use of spear, shield and bow. Indeed, it is a point of pride in Pelargir that the discipline of their warriors far surpasses that of any found elsewhere.
When the armies of the West go to war, Marines play a crucial part, crewing the many warships and acting as the vanguard for the oncoming host. The function of the Sea Guard means that they must fulfil the dangerous tasks of defending their vessels from attack, mounting boarding actions against enemy ships and attacking coastal positions.
Rank structure
- Shipmaster (S. Ciryatur W. Thoron Balku).
- Admiral of the Fleet (S. Berthîr Ciryath'; W. Balkubâr).
- Admiral (S. Berthîr W. Balkubâr).
- Lord-Captain (S. Aerhîr): commander of a naval squadron.
- Captain-at-Sea (S. Ciryahîr; W. Alûfa): commander of ships.
- Commander (W. Sganalûfa): acting as second in command on large ships, or as commander of smaller ships.
- Lieutenant (W. Sirêna): internally ranked according to their seniority.
- Bannerman (S. Cyllthafn W. Kylathaf): lowest officer.
- Ship's Mate (W. Mitkadem): special professionals whose expertise and authority demands formal recognition.
- Able Sailor (S. Ciriongar W. Kiriagara): after two years of good service on ships.
- Sailor (S. Cirion; W. Kiria).
- Recruit (S. Bennêth; W. Turay).
Shipmaster
Shipmaster (Sindarin: Ciryatur; Westron: Thoron Balku) is the title given to the chief captain of the navy of the Reunited Kingdom. The current Shipmaster is Berthîr Ciryath Taurimion Berennaithion.
Most have been professional naval officers but also many have been courtiers or members of the Royal Family. The office of Shipmaster is one of the seven Great Officers of State. From Fo.A. 191 the status of the Shipmaster has been raised, and only sworn warriors may be appointed.
Vessels
The Royal Navy of Arnor and Gondor has within its ranks several vessel types, ranging from small ships to massive galleasses.
Rochros
A Rochros (Sindarin for "Foam Horse") is a small ship, used for coastal trade and as a scout ship. Since it is highly maneuverable and relatively fast, it is also used for raids. It cannot stay at sea for a long time. A rochros has a crew of circa 50, 25 sailors and up to 30 soldiers.
Celnar
A Celnar (Sindarin for "Home Runner") or cog is a one-masted ship, very common for trade and commercial shipping. It is slow, and its fighting capacity is not the best. However, cogs are common, and easily available in times of need. When serving as a trader, a cog usually does not have a forecastle. A typical celnar has a crew of fifteen sailors and a complement of up to twenty warriors.
Celfalas
A Celfalas (Sindarin for “Coast Runner”) is a holk, slightly larger than a cog, also built for trade. The holk seldom has a forecastle while in a civilian role. When enlisted, a celfalas may have a crew of 25 sailors with up to 30 soldiers.
Galley
A galley (also known as Aerryn in Sindarin) is the most common warship in the coastal areas of the West during the Third and Fourth Ages. It mostly relies on oars for propulsion. It has one or two masts, but despite this its sailing performance is relatively poor and the limited seaworthiness does not allow extended trips in rough water (such as the Belegaer or the outer Bay of Belfalas). In addition, the large crew of soldiers, seamen and oarsmen combined with limited storage capacity for food and water limits the range of a galley considerably and makes it dependent on a string of friendly ports for provisioning.
A small galley used primarily for scouting or other supporting duties is called Aerrynion.
Turwing
A Turwing (Sindarin for “Master of the Sea-spray") is a typical raiding ship. Due to its slim hull, it is fast, but it cannot stand heavy weather to a great extent. On brief trips, it can take a large number of men, but the cargo capacity is small. Due to its light hull, the raider is not good in battle. It must either try to overpower the enemy (if small) or to outrun him (if large). The raider can be rowed, but it is primarily a sailing ship. A typical turwing has a crew of 30 sailors, fifty oarsmen and up to sixty soldiers.
Gaervinas
A Gaervinas (Sindarin for “Sea tower”) is a galleon, exclusively used as a warship. It has the role of flagship or a strong backbone in a squadron. In the same way as a large carrack, it may have three or four masts. It is faster than a carrack of the same size, has about the same endurance, but cannot take as many soldiers: 100 sailors and up to 180 soldiers.
Galleass
The galleass appeared in T.A. XIII Century, but became a relatively common sight only towards T.A. XVIII Century, and nowadays it is parsimoniously used as flagship, mostly due to its massive need for the infrastructure to support it.
Cairon
A Cairon (Sindarin for "Great ship") is a large carrack used nearly exclusively as a man-of-war, since its sizable construction cost. It is mainly used as a flagship for a large group of smaller ships. A large carrack may have three or four masts, depending on its size, and carry a complement of 120 sailors and up to 300 soldiers. Small carracks are similar to the larger ones, though its hull has about the same dimensions as the cogs. These smaller carracks are common, both as traders and as warships. The cargo capacity is smaller than for a cog of the same size, but maneuverability and endurance are better.