An elaborate, four-masted, heavily armed 16th-c warship, with a pronounced beak reminiscent of the ram on a galley, hence galleon. The forecastle was relatively small, but the poop was high and ornate.
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by the nations of Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries.
Galleons were an evolution of the caravel and carrack (or nao), for the new great ocean going voyages. In Portugal at least, carracks were usually very large ships for their time (often over 1000 tons), while galleons were mostly under 500 tons, although the Manila galleons were to reach up to 2000 tons. Carracks tended to be lightly armed and used for transporting booty from the Far East, while galleons were purpose-built warships, and were stronger, more heavily armed, and also cheaper to build (5 galleons could cost around the same as 3 carracks) and were therefore a much better investment for use as warships.
The galleon was powered entirely by sail, carried on three to five masts, with a lateen sail continuing to be used on the last (usually third) mast. They were used in both military and trade applications, most famously in the Spanish treasure fleet, and the Manila Galleons. The galleon was the prototype of all three or more masted, square rigged ships, for over two and a half centuries, including the later full-rigged ship.
The cores of the opposing English and Spanish fleets in the 1588 confrontation of the Spanish Armada were galleons, with the modified English "race built" galleons developed by John Hawkins proving decisive, while the more traditional Spanish galleons proved incredibly durable in the battles and in the great storm on the voyage home (most of the galleons survived).
Galleons were constructed from oak (for the keel), pine (for the masts) and various hardwoods for hull and decking. Therefore, most galleons were originally consigned for trade, although those captured by rival nations were usually put into military service.
The most common gun used aboard a galleon was the demi-culverin, although gun sizes up to demi-cannon were possible.
The galleon continued to be used until the early 18th century, when better designed and purpose-built vessels such as the brig and man of war rendered it obsolete for trade and warfare respectively.
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