Page 138 - Dutch Ships in Tropical Waters
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9 Fleets per region The complex activities of the VOC in Asia are reflected in the composition of the fleet in Asia. In order to further examine the logistical development of the VOC and to assess how successful they were in their attempts to maximise their organisation we have to look more closely into where the VOC fleet was employed in Asia. In Chapter . the composition of the total VOC fleet up to is described. Based on the classification of the vessels into the ten rates, a gen- eral description of the features of the vessels was given. The following specific rates have been identified: Rate : undefined vessels : prefabricated vessels : miscellaneous vessels (< last) : small yachts (< last) : small to middle sized flutes (- last) : middle sized yachts (- last) : big flutes (> last) : big yachts (> last) : ship (> last) : big men-of-war : homeward-bounder In this chapter, the use of these ships for the activities of the VOC is explored further; the nature of the shipping to the main regions is examined in more detail and the vessels used in these regions are analysed. By looking at the features of the ships, the requirements of the region and the functions of the VOC together, a better insight can be gained into the complexity of building up a fleet that allowed the company to run their activities and business as efficiently as possible. The central aim in this chapter will be to examine the specific circumstances in the regions of the VOC trade and shipping network that could put requirements on the vessels that the VOC had in service. During the development of the VOC shipping in Asia, the demands placed on ships were constantly changing. Although the physical-nautical conditions in the various destinations stayed the same in principle, within a given region, the condition of a harbour could change, as was the case in Taiwan where the entrance canal silted up, limiting the size of incoming vessels, or the harbour itself could be re-assigned, as for example, in Japan where the initial trading post in Hirado was moved to Nagasaki in . More often, the political-military circumstances in a region dictated the features of vessels sailing to these destinations. That did not simply mean the choice between sending men-of- war or trade vessels. It often involved a process of fine-tuning the best vessel that could meet the military needs, often in combination with the wish to trade. Accordingly, small patrol ves- sels replaced the men-of-war that fought the big Portuguese ships in the important Strait of Malacca in the period up to . After some losses of large Caraques to the Dutch, the Portu- guese provided better protection to their bigger ships and organised their other shipping on a
