Generally thought of as a Viking ship. It was a 45–75ft (14–23m) galley with up to 10 oars on each side, a square sail, and a 50–60-man capacity. Double-ended and built shell-first with overlapping planks ( clinker built), it was exceptionally sturdy in rough seas.
Longships were ships primarily used by the Scandinavian Vikings and the Saxons to raid coastal and inland settlements during the European Middle Ages. They are often called "longboats," but "longship" is more accurate. The vessels were also used for long distance trade and commerce, and for exploratory voyages to Iceland, Greenland, and beyond.