A Lancaran is a type of sailing ship used in the Nusantara archipelago. Although similar in shape to Mediterraneangalleys, lancaran was the backbone of the regional fleet before Mediterranean influence came.
Etymology
The term lancaran is derived from Malay word lancar, which means "swift", "fast", "not hindered", and "velocity without effort". Thus the word lancaran may be interpreted as "swift vessel".
Description
Lancaran is swift, local ship propelled by oars and sails with two quarter rudders, one on either side of the stern. Lancarans were taller than galley but equalled them in length. They had one, two, or three masts, with junk sail or tanja sails. Lancarans had a crew of between 150 and 200 crew. Lancaran can be equipped with several lela and swivel guns of cetbang and rentakavariety. One distinguishing feature from the galley is the presence of an elevated fighting platform, in which warriors usually stood and perform boarding actions. Cargo lancaran could carry 150 tons of cargo. The lancaran of Sunda had unique masts shaped like a crane, with steps between each so that they are easy to navigate.
Role
Lancaran were used both as warships and for commerce. In the 14th-15th century A.D., Kingdom of Singapura and Sungai Raya each has 100 three-masted lancaran. During the Demak Sultanate attack on Portuguese Malacca of 1513, lancaran were used as armed troop transports for landing alongside penjajap and kelulus, as the Javanese junks were too large to approach shore. Lancaran was the other type of vessels counted by Tome Pires after junks and penjajap upon arriving at a port. Royal lancaran of Lingga is said to carry 200 men and about the size of large galleas. Regular lancaran of Pasai is said to carry 150 men, and is under the command of Javanesecaptain. Large ones with 300 crew are said to have been Javanese vessels. In 1520s, smaller lancarans of Bintan and Pahang were armed with only 1 berço, but also had arrows, spears, and fire-hardened wooden spars. Nicolau Pereira’s account of 1568 Acehnesesiege ofMalacca said that Aceh's boats is usually lancaran. It has two row of oars and as long as galleys. An anonymous work depicting the 1568 siege showed a ship with double quarter rudder and 3 masts, corresponds with "lancaran bertiang tiga" mentioned in Malay texts.
